Red Bull 'Have To Get Sainz' If Verstappen Were To Leave According To Van Der Garde

Saturday, 13 April 2024 at 15:00

Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde suggested in a recent podcast that Carlos Sainz could be an excellent alternative for Red Bull if Max Verstappen decided to leave.

Although multiple journalists and Italian publications claimed Sainz is very close to or has already reached an agreement with Mercedes, nothing has been confirmed yet, so the 29-year-old driver is still very much on the market for an F1 seat in 2025.

As Mark Webber suggested, the Spanish Ferrari driver has been driving brilliantly ever since the start of this season. Consequently, Red Bull might really want to consider him. Van der Garde said on "DRS: The Race Show podcast":

"Red Bull will soon have the choice to sign Carlos Sainz or go for Perez, who is simply a good second driver. Or both, but that depends on what Max is going to do."

Although rumors about Verstappen's potential exit have calmed down in recent weeks, and it currently seems like the 26-year-old is going nowhere, we can't be 100%.

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If, by any chance, the triple World Champion decided to leave the team from Milton Keynes, vand der Garde suggests Sainz would be a no-brainer for Red Bull.

"If he has an option to go somewhere else, like Mercedes, then you have to get Sainz, being Red Bull."

"Sainz will of course talk to everyone. If I were him, I'd wait. If there is an option to get into the best car, the Red Bull…"

While the former F1 driver believes Sainz would be an excellent option for Red Bull, he doesn't see the Austrian team signing him as long as Verstappen is part of the team. He added:

"As long as Verstappen is there, Sainz will not be there, I don't believe that. That's too much fuss. But if something happens to Max and he chooses another team, as Red Bull I would get Sainz."

"As long as Perez continues to drive next to Max as he is doing now, he can stay for another two years."