Renault has revealed Carlos Sainz was their main target to partner Nico Hulkenberg for the 2017 season.
It was claimed just before the Japanese Grand Prix that the French manufacturer had approached the Spaniard over a drive but Red Bull moved quickly to rebuff their interest.
“We made every effort for Sainz,” a Renault spokesman told Spanish media.
“We wanted him, we wanted a driver to lead our project and it would have been good to have him with us,” he added.
“In the end, Red Bull did not want to let him go.”
Indeed, Sainz is considered a wanted man by many top teams after his strong performances in 2016, including his most recent return to form with a sixth place finish in Austin.
However, the 22-year-old is arguably Red Bull’s only in-house option to step up to the senior team from Toro Rosso after his current teammate Daniil Kvyat was promoted last year, only to be demoted after the Russian Grand Prix this season.
Some do believe, however, that Sainz will have to make the ultimate decision and leave the program that brought him through the ranks in a bid to achieve his ambitions, especially with Red Bull currently very happy with Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.
“They [Red Bull] 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,” Sainz said when asked about his future last month.
“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.”
But with Sainz no longer an option for Renault for 2017, there continues to be speculation over just who will partner Nico Hulkenberg next year.
Now a new name has emerged with Felipe Nasr believed to be in the running for the second seat.
It’s an unexpected move, as the Brazilian had previously been linked with Force India, however, it now seems Esteban Ocon, Renault’s reserve driver until the Belgian Grand Prix, will instead partner Sergio Perez, per recent reports.
It would also tie in with another report suggesting current Renault driver Kevin Magnussen has been offered a Haas seat for 2017 and could, therefore, pave the way for Esteban Gutierrez to return to Sauber with his substantial Mexican backing.
