When Carlos Sainz found himself on the driver market last year, the paddock was buzzing with speculation. But despite his impressive track record, Red Bull Racing opted to stick with Sergio Perez. Team Principal Christian Horner has now shed some light on why Sainz wasn’t brought into the fold.
The Sainz Shuffle
Sainz’s departure from Ferrari was one of the biggest shakeups in the 2024 pre-season. After the bombshell announcement that Lewis Hamilton would join Ferrari in 2025 alongside Charles Leclerc, Sainz’s future was thrown into question. The 30-year-old Spaniard spent months navigating intense rumors about his next move. By late July, Williams confirmed they had secured Sainz on a multi-year deal, beating out interest from Sauber/Audi and Alpine.
A Season of Highs and Lows for Red Bull
Red Bull seemed locked into its driver lineup for 2025. Max Verstappen’s contract runs through 2028, and Perez had secured a contract extension in June after a solid start to the season. However, as the season wore on, Perez’s form took a nosedive, culminating in an eighth-place finish in the drivers’ championship. He and Red Bull mutually agreed to part ways after the campaign ended, leaving a gap alongside Verstappen.
Christian Horner Reflects: Timing Is Everything
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about whether Red Bull regretted not pursuing Sainz, Horner explained the team’s rationale at the time.
“I think Carlos is a great driver, and we’ve seen that obviously this year,” Christian Horner said. “Sometimes you’ve got to look at all the various criteria and dynamics, and at the point that we extended Checo’s contract, you have to remember he was second in the world championship and finishing on podiums in the first four out of five races.”
Perez’s mid-season slump wasn’t just a blow to his reputation—it cost Red Bull dearly. Despite Verstappen’s dominant fourth consecutive title win, Red Bull slid to third in the constructors’ championship, edged out by McLaren.
“Unfortunately, we had a 280-point deficit between our drivers, and of course that became quite expensive in terms of the constructors’ championship,” Horner admitted.
Now, Christian Horner Welcomes Liam Lawson
With Perez out, Red Bull wasted no time announcing Liam Lawson as Verstappen’s new teammate for 2025. Lawson had two stints as a super-sub and now has the opportunity to shine alongside the reigning champion.
As Red Bull looks to bounce back in the constructors’ race next season, fans can only wonder: what might have been if Sainz had joined the Racing Bulls?
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