Carlos Sainz Details Failed Red Bull Negotiations After Ferrari Exit

Carlos Sainz revealed that Red Bull declined to sign him last year after Ferrari replaced him with Lewis Hamilton, with Red Bull opting to drop Sergio Perez in favor of Liam Lawson instead. Sainz, who previously raced alongside Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso but never aligned with Red Bull's main team, chose to join Williams over other options such as Alpine and Audi. His father, Carlos Sainz Sr., expressed regret that his son and Verstappen were not teammates again at Red Bull, believing Carlos would have relished the challenge of racing alongside the four-time world champion. Meanwhile, Jos Verstappen, Max's father, has criticized Red Bull's performance this season and suggested the team should self-reflect if Max fails to win the championship, highlighting tensions with team principal Christian Horner. Despite a tough 2025 campaign for Red Bull, Max Verstappen remains a championship contender amid strong competition from McLaren. Carlos Sainz Jr. is currently 12th in the standings and competing at the Spanish Grand Prix, embracing his role at Williams, a team that respects him and has shown promising performance this season.