Currently without a position for the upcoming 2025 season, Carlos Sainz has become a prominent individual affected by Lewis Hamilton’s surprising move from Mercedes to Ferrari. Helmut Marko has downplayed rumors of a potential transfer for Sainz, stating that the departing Ferrari driver will likely want to resolve his future before Red Bull decides on Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 F1 season.
Sainz, who is expected to attract significant attention for the 2025 season, has often been linked with Audi, which is anticipated to take over the current Sauber team in 2026. This association has been ongoing for the past year.
The question arises: Could Carlos Sainz be a suitable partner for Max Verstappen at Red Bull? With Sergio Perez’s contract set to expire at the end of 2024, a reunion with the Red Bull team remains a possible scenario for Sainz. In 2015, Sainz began his F1 journey as Verstappen’s teammate at Toro Rosso.
Recent reports suggested that Red Bull had offered Alex Albon a first-refusal option, considering the possibility of re-signing the Williams driver. Albon had a challenging time as Verstappen’s teammate in 2019/20 before being replaced by Perez on a three-year deal starting in 2026.
In an interview with the Austrian publication Kleine Zeitung before the Bahrain Grand Prix, Marko addressed the matter and dismissed the idea of pursuing Albon before 2026. He indicated that there is a discrepancy between Red Bull’s timeline and Sainz’s intentions, stating that the team intends to finalize their lineup “after the summer break.”
Marko stated, “Albon is not a concern for us; he is under contract until 2025. And Sainz likely prefers to make a decision earlier than we do.”
Fernando Alonso admits there is interest from Mercedes in him replacing Lewis Hamilton.