Sainz and his team have been talking with every Formula 1 team that has an opening for next season. He will be replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton.
One option is for Sainz to join Red Bull, taking Sergio Perez’s place, or if Max Verstappen decides to leave Red Bull due to some internal issues.
Red Bull has shown interest in signing Sainz. They made it clear at the last race in Suzuka. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko also mentioned that Audi is putting pressure on the 2025 driver market.
Audi has been considering signing Sainz, especially since his father has been racing with them in the Dakar Rally since 2022. Sainz won the 2024 event with Audi’s RS Q e-tron.
Marko mentioned in an interview with an Austrian newspaper that Red Bull can’t offer Sainz as much money as Audi. He also talked about Sainz’s history with Red Bull when he used to race for Toro Rosso alongside Verstappen.
Verstappen has supported Marko during some tough times at Red Bull, showing loyalty to the team.
Regarding rumors about Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson swapping places, Marko said it’s a complex issue. Lawson is currently a reserve driver for Red Bull, and he could race for another team if he doesn’t get a seat with Red Bull next year.
