Red Bull boss Christian Horner has admitted that its decision to extend Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 deal is why it passed up the chance to replace him with Carlos Sainz.
Perez’s nightmare campaign in 2024 has led to the much-anticipated announcement that he will not continue to race with Red Bull in 2025 alongside Max Verstappen.
The Mexican’s spot is expected to go to Liam Lawson despite the RB driver having 11 F1 starts to his name, with Red Bull having opted against Sainz earlier this term.
Sainz was available to snap up amid the bombshell prior to the past season even beginning that seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton will take his place at Ferrari.
However, Red Bull decided against the temptation to reunite Sainz and Verstappen as team-mates, prompting the Spaniard to pen a multi-term contract with Williams.
Sainz had been holding out on securing a move to a leading squad, but Red Bull was ruled out as an option when it elected to renew Perez through 2025 back in June.
“I think Carlos is a great driver and we’ve seen that obviously this year at some times,” Horner told Sky. “You’ve got to look at all the various criteria and dynamics.
“At the point that we extended Checo’s contract you have to remember that he was second in the world championship and finishing on the podium in the first four out of five races.”
Red Bull not set on Perez replacement
Red Bull is primed to pick between the two drivers that ended 2024 at sister team RB, with Lawson set to be handed the nod over the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda.
However, Horner is adamant that no choice has been made as Red Bull considers the respective candidates to partner reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen in 2025.
“We have all of the information that we need,” he added. “Essentially, it’ll be a choice between Yuki and Liam.
“Both have got strong credentials. We tested Yuki recently at the tyre test in Abu Dhabi for a chance for him to work with the engineering team.
“Liam has done a lot of testing with us behind the scenes this year as well and has driven very well in the six or seven races that he’s had.
“So we have all the information, we’re just looking at it and considering all of that, speaking with the engineering team as well. And we’ll come to a conclusion in the coming days.”
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