Horner enthusiastic

Red Bull: Sainz now on the list of candidates for 2025

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner (right) has been following Carlos Sainz's performances very closely.(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS, APA/AFP/POOL/Scott Barbour)

Carlos Sainz is on the Red Bull candidate list for 2025 after his strong performances, as team principal Christian Horner confirmed after the Australian GP.

Sainz finished third in the season opener in Bahrain, had to miss the Saudi Arabian GP due to an appendectomy and triumphed in Melbourne just two weeks later. 

"The miracle of Sainz: from hospital to triumph: 'Life is beautiful'," jubilated the Italian daily newspaper "La Stampa". In his third GP victory, Sainz benefited from the retirement of world champion Max Verstappen due to an exploding brake, but this did not dampen his joy. "A red cloud is gathering - for now - in the blue sky," wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Carlos Sainz stood at the top of the podium in Australia.(Bild: AP)

Still without a job for 2025
With his flawless triumphant drive, Sainz made the best advertisement for himself. The 29-year-old will have to make way for record world champion Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari next year, who is coming from Mercedes. "I'm still without a job for next year. That will help," said Sainz after his success in Melbourne. However, he is primarily racing "to prove to myself that I can do it if I am given a car and that I can compete at the top. That's the mentality and approach that I have and that I'll keep for the rest of the year."

"Everyone in the paddock knows the value of Carlos," said Sainz's Ferrari teammate Leclerc. "I'm sure he will have many opportunities. He just has to make the best decision for his career."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/Giuseppe CACACE)

Horner: "Thinking outside the box"
And at Red Bull, Sergio Perez has not been quite so firmly in the saddle for some time. So will Sainz be returning to Red Bull? The Madrilenian went through their junior program and made his Formula 1 debut for the then sister team Toro Rosso in 2015 before switching to Renault in 2017.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner certainly opened the door. "If you look at this performance, you can't rule out any possibility," he said in a media round after the Australian GP. "We want to field the best pair we can, and sometimes you have to think outside the box."

In addition to Sainz, Horner wants to examine and thoroughly explore other options for next year. But the Brit emphasized, "A very fast out-of-work driver has won the race, so the market is reasonably fluid."

No rush
"We want to take our time. Checo was unlucky [on Sunday], but he had a great start to the season," said Horner, referring to Pérez's second places in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. His team is currently "not desperately" looking for a new driver, added Horner.

One thing is clear: with performances like this, Sainz can choose his team for the coming season. It is also well known that there is still a vacancy at Mercedes ...