Carlos Sainz seems to be teasing Red Bull with a potential move for 2026
Carlos Sainz to be teasing Red Bull. The Madrid-born driver, currently racing for Williams under the guidance of James Vowles, has made significant remarks regarding the possibility of joining the Austrian team—now facing one of the most turbulent periods in its history.
Red Bull’s current turmoil, triggered by Adrian Newey’s departure in 2024 and further aggravated by Christian Horner’s exit after more than 20 years, appears to be opening doors for new seat opportunities next season. With Max Verstappen potentially set to leave after a decade at Milton Keynes, speculation is mounting over who might replace the four-time World Champion.
Should Verstappen indeed depart for Mercedes to join Toto Wolff’s team, the Austrian outfit will face a major decision: recruit the Dutchman at the cost of losing Russell or Antonelli? And more importantly, who could Red Bull bring in to replace such an iconic figure?
The Red Bull puzzle and Sainz’s provocation
The challenge awaiting Helmut Marko (assuming he remains in his role) and Laurent Mekies for next season is anything but simple. If—and it remains a big if—Verstappen does leave Red Bull, the hunt for his replacement begins. The outgoing Mercedes driver could be the top pick, but names like Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz are certainly intriguing options.
Another layer of complexity surrounds the second seat. Yuki Tsunoda appears poised to exit after an underwhelming season, with Isack Hadjar being the likely “in-house” candidate to fill the spot. However, an unexpected twist could come in the form of a surprise signing like Lindblad, while a return for Liam Lawson seems increasingly unlikely.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, as reported by Paddocknews24, Sainz weighed in on the situation:
“I think everyone is going through a really tough time being Max Verstappen’s teammate. All I can say is that, when I was his teammate, I didn’t experience those kinds of difficulties” (referring to his 2015 stint alongside Max at Toro Rosso).
“Of course, I was incredibly surprised by how fast he was and what an outstanding driver he’s become. He’ll probably go down as one of the greatest in history—if he isn’t already. . I’ve been teammates with Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Nico Hülkenberg. I think I’ve raced alongside some of the fastest guys on the grid, and now with Alex Albon as well, who’s incredibly quick “.
Sainz concluded by subtly nudging Red Bull, though without explicitly naming them:
“All of this keeps motivating me to compete against the very best. I don’t think, ‘No, I don’t want to.’ I know I can do it—and I know I’ve already succeeded in the past “.
Photo: Carlos Sainz X, Max Verstappen X