Sainz issues warning to Red Bull over future
Carlos Sainz will not wait forever for a Red Bull promotion he has warned.
The Spaniard is set to continue at Toro Rosso in 2017 for what historically is an unprecedented third year with the team.
However, this season he has been one of the breakthrough stars following a stretch of impressive results after Max Verstappen’s move to Red Bull.
Many felt Sainz’s star was being dimmed alongside the Dutchman when the two were at the junior team in 2015, and when he sat tenth in the Drivers’ championship at one point earlier in the year the second generation driver proved that.
Since the summer break, Toro Rosso has struggled to maintain the performance they had in the run up due to a now significantly underpowered 2015-spec Ferrari power unit.
Indeed, Sainz’s last points finish came at the end of his hot run of six top 10’s in seven races, as he capitalised on the wet qualifying in Hungary to make Q3 and maintain his position in the race.
Despite that, he remains on the radar of several other teams who may consider the 22-year-old for 2018.
With Red Bull currently very happy with Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo in the senior team, Sainz has made it clear he is aware of that interest and is seeing the end of next season as a time when a decision will have to be made.
“Knowing Red Bull and myself that this is an important year in 2018. That is where I would definitely like to do a step in my career so we both know it,” he said.
“They need to understand that obviously, it’s good to have a third driver like me waiting there in case something happens, but I cannot spend my whole life being the ‘just-in-case’ option for Red Bull.”
It is well known that the driver program at Red Bull is one of the most intense ever created, the previous droppings of drivers like Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari, as well as the Daniil Kvyat situation that has unfolded this year.
Usually if Red Bull want you, they will do everything to keep you, that was seen in how quickly Renault’s approach for Sainz before the Japanese Grand Prix was rebuffed.
But the Spaniard is keen to stress that he will have as big a say in his future as Helmut Marko, Christian Horner and Franz Tost.
“Yes they have an option obviously they can execute whenever they want but I will play an important role and will also decide it, it will not all be about them,” he said strongly.
“It depends obviously on them if they want to exercise that option but it will also depend on me if I also want to do another year in Toro Rosso.
“At the end they perfectly understand I have high targets, important targets in my mind for 2018 and it will be discussed. Like everything in life, like every contract in every Formula One driver.”
What do you think Sainz should do? Where do you think he will be driving in 2018? Send your thoughts in the comments!