Following the announcement of his exit from Ferrari, many saw Carlos Sainz as the ideal teammate for Max Verstappen at Red Bull. The Spaniard appeared to be the best possible replacement for Sergio Perez, given his consistency and the experience he gained alongside a driver like Charles Leclerc. In the end, no agreement was reached, and after months of negotiations, Carlos Sainz decided to commit to the Williams project, hoping that James Vowles’ team can return to title contention as early as 2026.
Carlos Sainz revisits why he didn’t join Milton Keynes
So why didn’t Carlos Sainz sign with Red Bull? The former Ferrari driver himself provided an explanation, delivering a veiled jab at the team led by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
“Obviously, I also spoke with Red Bull after leaving Ferrari. But they didn’t want me. For one reason or another, in the end no agreement was found. I think anyone who knows how things work in Formula 1 knows why I didn’t go to Red Bull. I have nothing against them or their decision,” said Carlos Sainz during his interview with El Chiringuito.
“I don’t know whether Max’s opinion had any influence or not. You’d have to ask him,” added the number 55.
These comments sound like a subtle dig at the team that helped develop his career, with the Spaniard likely referring to a possible veto from Max Verstappen, who may have preferred a less challenging teammate by his side.
Still, Carlos Sainz has had a rather positive start to his time with Williams. The former Ferrari driver has already collected twelve points in the first eight races of the season. A figure that is expected to grow, given that Alex Albon—already well integrated into the team—has reached forty-two points.
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