Carlos Sainz Reveals Why Red Bull Didn't Pick Him After Six-Month Window
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Carlos Sainz reveals why Red Bull didn't select him for the 2025 season, despite a six-month window. The Ferrari driver explains his decision to join Williams on a long-term contract and why he doesn’t think he fits into the Red Bull setup.
Carlos Sainz Reveals Why Red Bull Didn’t Pick Him After Six-Month Window
Carlos Sainz on Red Bull’s Decision and His F1 Future
Carlos Sainz has revealed that Red Bull had a six-month window to sign him but ultimately decided not to pick him for the 2025 season. The Ferrari driver admitted he doesn’t believe he fits into Red Bull’s current driver setup, despite his availability and open discussions with the team.
Sainz’s Decision to Join Williams for 2025
After the announcement that he would leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, Sainz was in discussions with multiple teams that had uncontracted seats for the 2025 season. Ultimately, Sainz chose Williams, committing to a long-term contract for next year.
Sainz's decision comes after a period of uncertainty, as he reflected on the challenges of securing a top-tier seat in Formula 1. Despite hopes of landing a spot at a team like Red Bull or Mercedes, Sainz explained that he wasn't ready to wait indefinitely for a seat to open up and opted for Williams instead, a team that had been keen to bring him on board.
Why Red Bull Didn’t Pick Carlos Sainz
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed in November that Carlos Sainz was not in their plans for the 2025 season. With doubts surrounding the future of Sergio Perez, there was speculation that Sainz could be a candidate to replace him. However, Sainz believes the team did not pick him because he simply doesn’t fit the driver profile Red Bull is seeking at the moment.
Sainz shared his thoughts on the situation during an appearance on the Beyond the Grid podcast, saying:
"I don’t think I fit into the Red Bull situation. They had me available for six months, and they didn’t pick me. I think it’s because I simply don’t fit into the type of driver that they need right now in Red Bull – and I’m completely fine with that."
He also pointed out that despite Red Bull having the opportunity to sign him, they chose not to, even though Sergio Perez had signed his contract extension earlier in the season when he was still performing well. Sainz acknowledged that waiting until December for a potential Red Bull seat might have left him without a drive at all, as the F1 driver market tends to move quickly.
Sainz on His Decision to Join Williams
Having considered his options, Sainz decided to accept Williams' offer and join their team for the 2025 season. He revealed that he felt truly wanted by Williams and was impressed by their efforts to convince him to join their ranks. Williams team principal James Vowles played a significant role in bringing Sainz on board, and the driver expressed his excitement for the upcoming challenge.
Reflecting on his decision, Sainz shared the importance of feeling valued in a team:
"I also have obviously an ego, and I’m going to go with the people that really want me and James [Vowles, Williams team principal], I cannot explain to you how much I felt wanted and how much I felt pushed to join them, and they did an incredible job also in convincing me, because it is a project that, as I said before, I just look forward to it."
What’s Next for Carlos Sainz and F1 in 2025?
Sainz's move to Williams for 2025 marks the beginning of a new chapter in his Formula 1 career. While Red Bull may have been a tempting option, Sainz believes his decision to join Williams reflects a better fit for his skills and ambitions. With the 2025 season rapidly approaching, it will be exciting to see how Sainz adapts to his new team and whether his experience can help Williams return to a more competitive position in the championship standings.
For Red Bull, the future remains uncertain for Sergio Perez, with the team exploring other driver options. However, it seems that Sainz’s time with the team has passed, with Red Bull moving forward with other driver plans. As the driver market continues to shift, fans are eager to see how the grid will take shape for the 2025 season and beyond.
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