Red Bull will never sign £115k-a-week F1 driver ‘in a million years’ amid Sergio Perez uncertainty

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Red Bull Racing are making sure that the speculation in the Formula 1 driver’s market lasts until the very end of the season despite kicking off before the campaign even began.

Ferrari’s move for Lewis Hamilton has set off a chain reaction that has already seen eight drivers switches made ahead of 2025.

Red Bull, theoretically, aren’t involved in any speculation any more with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez signed up on contracts until at least 2028 and 2025 respectively.

However, it’s impossible to ignore the 242-point gap that exists between them in the Drivers’ Championship.

It’s almost certainly going to cost Red Bull a third consecutive team championship and is raising plenty of questions about whether the 34-year-old is the right man for the job alongside Verstappen next year.

Speculation has been mounting about who could replace the Mexican, although Red Bull are making decisions that suggest Perez will stay, at least for the beginning of the 2025 season.

Journalist Ben Hunt was speaking on the Inside The Piranha Club Podcast about one driver who he can’t ever see racing for Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen.

Carlos Sainz won’t drive for Red Bull ‘in a million years’ alongside Max Verstappen

Williams have already confirmed the signing of Carlos Sainz for 2025, but that hasn’t stopped speculation that he could join the Milton Keynes-based team.

Christian Horner went to speak to Williams during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, although it’s more likely that they were discussing Franco Colapinto’s future than the Spaniards.

However, Damon Hill thinks Sainz would have been perfect to replace Perez for next season and others are in agreement that he seems like the perfect fit.

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

However, discussing the £115,000-a-week driver’s chances of racing for Red Bull, Hunt said: “Christian Horner went to Williams and we presume that was about Franco Colopinto because there’s no way that he would get Carlos Sainz because the Verstappens and the Sainz don’t get on and there’s no way that’s going to happen.

“It’s all about Red Bull’s focus it’s all about preserving the Verstappen relationship.

“There’s no way in a million years that Carlos Sainz will be allowed to rejoin Red Bull or Verstappens there.”

How do Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz compare ahead of the 2025 F1 season?

It’s hard to say that Perez is still driving at the same level as when Red Bull rescued him from joining the free agency market at the end of the 2020 season when he won his first race for Racing Point.

He started life at Red Bull much closer to Verstappen’s level, but in the last 18 months, he’s fallen away to the point where his teammate is going to finish the season for the second year in succession with double his points tally.

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

Perez has avoided being dropped midway through this season and Red Bull have been extremely loyal to the 34-year-old in a manner that the likes of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon never experienced.

Sainz hasn’t been afforded the same loyalty by Ferrari, although there’s no disgrace in being replaced by the most successful driver in F1 history.

Only time will tell whether dropping down to race for Williams will harm the Spaniard’s career or if he can help lift them out of Formula 1’s midfield.

However, while Red Bull may never consider signing him, they may need to take a closer look at the hiring policy.