Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner speaks out about rumors of Sergio Pérez being replaced by Carlos Sainz and closes the case while remaining unclear on his 2025 line-up.
If Sainz already has a contract for the 2025 Formula 1 season, this has not prevented him from remaining at the center of the latest rumors which have animated the transfer market.
Formalized at Williams earlier in the year, it is towards Red Bull that the latest speculations send the Spaniard. The reigning champion team has also finalized the contracts of its drivers for the next season of the discipline, but many rumors in the corridor see Sergio Pérez being sidelined shortly.
The Colapinto slopes
It must be said that the Mexican's repeated chaotic performances do not help the Austrian team to fully concentrate on the end of the season. Many potential replacements have been mooted to replace him, including natural successors Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, from sister team RB, who came out of the woodwork first to compensate for Pérez's possible dismissal. Franco Colapinto and Carlos Sainz followed.
For the Argentinian, these are remarkable performances, linked to the fact that he does not have a steering wheel for next year, which place him at the center of these rumors. For the Spaniard, potential release clauses mentioned in his contract would make this transfer possible.
Case closed
Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Horner, however, put an end to the rumors, by clarifying the situation on the Sainz file: “There is always a lot of speculation in the Formula 1 paddock, indicates the English manager when mentioning the subject. Sainz will be a Williams driver next year. He's a great pilot. He recently had a stunning victory in Mexico. I think he will be very good for this team. »
Before ending the suspense. “Carlos is committed to the Williams team. He cannot be part of our plans for next year. »
It therefore seems that the Spaniard will respect his contract at Williams next year alongside Alex Albon. Regarding the Pérez case, as many names as existing possibilities should still emerge, including the Colapinto track. At least if the Mexican's dark streak doesn't end by the end of the 2024 season…
