Red Bull Formula 1 advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull is in talks with Carlos Sainz over the potential for him to partner with Max Verstappen in 2025.
Sainz is available on the market for next season following Ferrari’s decision to acquire seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton to partner the incumbent Charles Leclerc.
The Spaniard has been linked with the vacant Mercedes seat alongside George Russell, while Red Bull is assessing who to slot next to reigning champion Verstappen.
READ MORE: Sainz: Picking next F1 team with new rules ‘a bit like a coin toss’
Sainz was spotted speaking with Marko in the paddock at Suzuka a fortnight ago, heightening rumours that he is being considered for a return to the Red Bull stable.
Marko has now revealed that discussions have materialised with Sainz, who has been responsible for landing the two non-Red Bull wins since the start of last season.
However, the Austrian, 80, has divulged that Sainz has a substantial proposal on the table from Audi, which is scheduled to complete a full takeover of the Sauber team.
“We are speaking with him, he is driving his best season in Formula 1,” Marko told Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung.
“But he has a lucrative offer from Audi, which we cannot match or beat.”
Perez remains the favourite for the second Red Bull seat, with the Mexican sustaining his strongest start to an F1 season since his move to the Austrian outfit in 2021.
Despite disclosing that conversations with Sainz have taken place, Marko has established that Perez is the “best option for 2025” providing his current form continues.
“It is clear that Checo is currently having his best season since he has been with us,” Marko added.
“If he can keep up these performances, especially qualifying in Japan, then he is definitely the best option for Red Bull in 2025.
“He is a team player and has now realised that his radical approach in terms of set-up last year was the wrong one. Now he has a set-up much more similar to Max’s.”
Marko’s comments on Perez and Sainz will come as a blow to Daniel Ricciardo, who has harboured ambitions of a return to Red Bull but struggled since his F1 return.
The Australian’s position on the F1 grid with Red Bull’s sister squad, RB, could be threatened with Liam Lawson waiting on the sidelines to be handed a full-time drive.
The New Zealander starred when he deputised for five rounds in place of Ricciardo when the Australian suffered a broken metacarpal in a practice crash at Zandvoort.
“We have in Liam Lawson as reserve driver a strong driver in the team, who is contractually free to race for another team if he doesn’t get a seat with us in 2025,” Marko said.
“In this regard it would of course be exciting for us if we could see him already in F1 this year, to give ourselves an even clearer picture.
“But this is a complex topic, one must wait and see how it goes.”
