Christian Horner spoke to James Vowles about 2025 deal ‘for Carlos Sainz’, not Franco Colapinto

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Christian Horner was seen visiting the Williams facility at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Friday. Many assumed that he was speaking to James Vowles about a deal for Franco Colapinto.

Sergio Perez looks increasingly likely to lose his Red Bull seat at the end of the season. Having made an impressive start to his RB audition, Liam Lawson has appeared the favourite to replace him.

That, in turn, would leave a vacancy at junior team RB next to Yuki Tsunoda. Colapinto has been heavily linked with that seat.

The 21-year-old has been one of the breakout stars of 2024 even though he only entered the fray at the end of August, replacing Logan Sargeant. Colapinto has scored five points in his first five races and finished no lower than 12th.

However, as it stands, Williams can’t offer him a seat for 2025. They’ve signed Carlos Sainz to race alongside Alex Albon.

A report this week claimed Red Bull offered Williams £15m to sign Colapinto. Vowles may prefer a loan arrangement, but that’s unlikely to persuade any suitors.

Sensational Carlos Sainz to Red Bull rumour resurfaces after Christian Horner visits Williams

Now, however, Argentine journalists have relayed a remarkable twist. Jorge Legnani, a reporter at Campeones, says his colleague Orlando Rios has heard a very different take on Horner’s meeting with Vowles.

Brazilian insiders have claimed that Horner was actually negotiating ‘for Carlos Sainz’, even though he’s already penned a Williams contract. The proposed deal would see Colapinto stay at Williams next to Albon.

During an interview in July, Vowles was asked about Sainz’s deal, specifically whether there was an exit clause for Red Bull or Mercedes. He neither confirmed nor denied the theory.

If said clause exists, it’s unclear whether it would be active before Sainz has even started racing for the Grove outfit. If this is Horner’s intention, it could be a very difficult deal to pull off.

Damon Hill thinks Carlos Sainz is ‘basically crying’ amid ‘gut-wrenching’ situation

Red Bull had the chance to sign Sainz earlier this year after Ferrari released him to sign Lewis Hamilton. But they turned him down.

That’s because Horner feared tension between Sainz and Verstappen, or more likely their fathers. They previously raced together at Toro Rosso in 2015, and things became sour.

What’s changed? Crucially, Verstappen could leave Red Bull ahead of the 2026 season, either for Mercedes or Aston Martin. That would mean only one year alongside the Spaniard, who would then step up to be the team leader.

It would be a quite sensational turnaround. Speaking at the Sao Paulo GP, Damon Hill said Sainz is ‘basically crying’ as he prepares to leave Ferrari for a lower midfield team, but perhaps it’s not yet a certainty.