F1 News: Christian Horner Teases Carlos Sainz 2025 Contract Interest After Australian GP Win

Christian Horner has revealed his interest in Carlos Sainz for a 2025 seat following his impressive Australian Grand Prix victory.

Author:
Lydia Mee
Mar 25, 2024

Following Carlos Sainz's remarkable win at the Australian Grand Prix, Christian Horner hinted at potential interest in Sainz for Red Bull's 2025 lineup alongside Max Verstappen.

Key Takeaways:

Christian Horner acknowledges the potential of Carlos Sainz, who started his F1 career with Toro Rosso (now known as VCARB), as a candidate for the 2025 seat with the F1 champions.
Sainz's victory in Melbourne ended Max Verstappen's series of wins, just 2 weeks post-appendix surgery.
Despite being currently unsigned for the next season, Sainz's victory has put him in the spotlight for top teams, including Red Bull.

Red Bull Racing's principal, Christian Horner, has expressed admiration for Carlos Sainz after his stunning victory at the Australian Grand Prix. This victory not only highlighted Sainz's exceptional talent but also positioned him as a formidable contender for a spot with the reigning F1 world champions in 2025.

Sainz, who kickstarted his F1 journey backed by Red Bull at Toro Rosso and raced alongside Max Verstappen, has proven to be a consistent threat on the track, showcasing his mettle by breaking Verstappen's winning streak. His triumph in Melbourne was particularly commendable, considering it followed a swift recovery from an appendectomy merely two weeks prior. This victory was a significant disruption to Verstappen's dominant run, which had commenced in Japan the previous year, following Sainz's impressive performance at the Singapore Grand Prix that halted Verstappen's record of consecutive wins.

Horner's comments have ignited speculation about Sainz's future in F1. The Spaniard, who finds himself without a contract for the upcoming season after Ferrari's decision to bring in seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, demonstrated with his recent win that he remains a top-tier driver. This has invariably drawn attention from several leading teams, with Red Bull being a notable mention.

Carlos Sainz - Ferrari — Carlos Sainz Jr. - Formula One Driver - Born 1994, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc - Race Car Driver

Kym Illman/GettyImages

During an interview with Sky Sports F1, Horner commented:

"I think we want to field the best pairing that we can at Red Bull Racing and sometimes you've got to look outside the pool as well. You've had a very fast unemployed driver win today so the market is reasonably fluid with certain drivers."

When asked if he would consider signing Sainz for 2025, Horner responded:

"Look, based on a performance like that you couldn't rule any possibility out. So I think we just want to take the time.

"Obviously Checo [Perez] was compromised today, he's had a great start to the season too, so we're not in any desperate rush."

As the 2024 season progresses, all eyes will be on the Scuderia driver and the potential moves he might make. His recent win in Melbourne not only adds to his appeal but also places him in a strong position for negotiations with teams looking to bolster their lineup with a proven talent.