Carlos Sainz Jr. will remain at Toro Rosso for the 2017 Formula 1 season, with Christian Horner confirming Red Bull has taken up the option on his contract.
Red Bull opted to promote Sainz’s team-mate Max Verstappen to the senior team earlier in the 2016 season, with Daniil Kvyat moving back to Toro Rosso.
Sainz has continued to impress during the season so far and Red Bull has revealed Sain will remain at Toro Rosso for a third year in F1.
“Well we took up his [Sainz] option earlier this week so he’s committed to Red Bull for the next 12 months,” Horner told reporters ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
“As with all the drivers he’s committed to Red Bull Racing and then we have the ability to place them where we want. Of course he’s currently at Toro Rosso which is where he’ll be next year.”
Horner said Red Bull had until the end of the year to take up the option on Sainz’s contract but decided to confirm it early to “put his mind at rest”.
The Red Bull Racing team principal also said he would be “surprised” if Kvyat wasn’t Sainz’s team-mate at Toro Rosso in 2017.
“I think he is continuing his development,” Horner added. “You can see he is finding his feet now and there’s not an obvious candidate knocking on the door at the moment that would warrant that seat.”
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