Juan Pablo Montoya says he would sign Franco Colapinto rival if he was Red Bull boss

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Red Bull Racing will be hoping that the final three races of the 2024 Formula 1 season give the team some clarity on the future of their driver line-up.

Max Verstappen is locked in for next season, and while his Red Bull contract runs until at least the end of 2028, teams such as Mercedes and Aston Martin are constantly sniffing around to see if they can convince the 27-year-old to move on.

Sergio Perez is technically going to be a Red Bull driver until the end of the 2025 season if his contract is honoured by the team.

Perez’s manager recently told Damon Hill that his deal is watertight, but Red Bull are sure to have ways to bring that contract to an early end if they feel the need to.

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya was speaking on the W Radio YouTube channel about the issue Red Bull currently face.

The driver’s market has now passed Red Bull by and there are very few racers available that would be an upgrade on Perez.

Franco Colapinto is on Red Bull’s radar given he doesn’t have a race seat at Williams in 2025.

However, Montoya has said that he would sign Carlos Sainz instead if he was Red Bull team principal due to his additional experience and F1 pedigree.

Juan Pablo Montoya would sign Carlos Sainz if he was Red Bull team principal

Montoya: “If I were Christian Horner and I was in charge of Red Bull, I would go to Williams and tell them, ‘Look, you are so happy with Colapinto, that we will take Sainz’.

“If I’m going to take the risk of replacing Checo, who is experienced, he has been in Formula 1 for years, he has won races.

“To put a rookie against Max? Max doesn’t make mistakes and Max doesn’t fail.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

“So, that one is very complicated. Personally, if I were Christian I would tell him, ‘Hey, you like him so much Colapinto, develop him for the future.’

“I don’t know, but I would say that Carlos in order to sign for Williams he would have told them, if I sign for you, but we are not winning races or making podiums every year, if someone offers me something I can leave.

“They [Red Bull] could say, look, you’re going to lose Carlos right now or in a year.

“Right now, you’ll be left with money, in a year, without. If that were the case, personally, that’s the move I want from Red Bull.

“I wouldn’t go for Colapinto, I would go for Sainz.”

How Christian Horner feels about signing Carlos Sainz for next season

Horner was spotted entering the Williams motorhome in Sao Paulo and talks were likely about Colapinto.

Hill would like to see Sainz join Red Bull but thinks Liam Lawson is the most likely driver to take Perez’s seat if he’s moved on.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Sainz was the strongest free agent on the market for months, but Red Bull’s lack of interest speaks volumes about the team’s feelings towards Perez and their previous experience with the Sainz camp while he was a Toro Rosso driver.

Horner recently ruled out a move for Sainz, giving Perez more hope that he would be in the car again in 2025.

However, it appears as though it’s the rookies he needs to be really worried about.