Red Bull Considers Carlos Sainz Reunion Amidst Ferrari Exit

Red Bull Racing is contemplating a potential return for Carlos Sainz to the Red Bull family, as the Spanish driver finds himself without a seat for the 2025 Formula 1 season following his departure from Ferrari.

Sainz, who initially entered Formula 1 under the guidance of Dr. Helmut Marko alongside Max Verstappen, embarked on a journey that led him through Renault and McLaren before landing at Ferrari. 

However, the Italian team opted to re-sign Charles Leclerc and replace Sainz with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season, leaving Sainz without a contract beyond the current season.

Speculation surrounding Sainz’s future intensified when his father and manager were seen exiting a meeting with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff in Jeddah, followed by Sainz engaging in discussions with Red Bull’s strategic mastermind, Dr. Helmut Marko, at Suzuka.

Marko, speaking to Osterreich newspaper, acknowledged Sainz’s strengths and motivation, particularly following his departure from Ferrari. 

“Sainz is a strong character. He is ambitious and highly motivated, firstly because of his expulsion from Ferrari, secondly because of the appendix effect.”

“Everything is coming together at the moment, it’s at an incredible high,” the Austrian added.

When asked which of the current Ferrari drivers is better, Marko answered: “Last year it was definitely Leclerc. Now I would say it’s definitely Sainz.”

He noted the rising momentum surrounding Sainz and hinted at the possibility of a potential reunion with Red Bull.

Regarding the comparison between Ferrari’s current drivers, Marko suggested that Sainz has outperformed Leclerc this season, signaling a potential shift in dynamics.

Meanwhile, questions linger about Sergio Perez’s future with Red Bull, as his contract expires in 2024. Marko remained non-committal about Perez’s future, indicating that decisions regarding driver line-ups for both Red Bull and Mercedes are on hold, partly influenced by Hamilton’s unexpected move to Ferrari.

“It’s far too early to speculate about that.”

“All of this was triggered by Hamilton’s early decision to go to Ferrari. But both Mercedes and Red Bull can wait to make a decision at the moment.”

Sainz, reflecting on the evolving driver market, expressed his desire to move forward and resolve his future plans. However, time is ticking, with Sauber reportedly extending a contract offer to Sainz, adding urgency to his decision-making process.

“That’s how it is, he said. But now the season is entering a point where I would like to move forward and start solving things. I don’t want to spend the entire year between one thing and the next.”

While Sainz hopes for a competitive car in 2025, he remains mindful of the impending regulation changes in 2026, emphasizing the importance of considering the long-term prospects in addition to immediate opportunities.

“The ideal, said Sainz, would be to have a winning car next year. But we must also remember that in 2026 everything changes again. So I’m not only looking at 2025.”

As the Formula 1 season progresses, all eyes remain on Sainz and his potential next move, with the prospect of a Red Bull reunion adding an intriguing twist to the ongoing driver market saga.