Williams approached Sainz in 2016
- Published on 31 May 2017 10:27
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Carlos Sainz was approached by Williams last year for a 2017 drive but declined, according to Pat Symonds of Sky F1. Sainz attracted interest in 2016 after some consistently strong results, with Renault also making a move for the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 champion.
Sainz is currently in his third year in Formula 1, driving for Red Bull's junior team. So far in 2017, he has scored in the points five times out of six and sits eighth in the championship. A spot opened up at Red Bull in 2016 when Daniil Kvyat was demoted, however it was Sainz's former teammate Max Verstappen who got the call-up.
Toro Rosso currently sits above Williams in the constructor standings, and it is possible that Williams could return later this year for a chance to sign him. It is also rumoured that Ferrari is lining a deal up for him to replace Kimi Raikkonen, and also would receive a Red Bull promotion if Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen were to move away. Formula 2 driver Oliver Rowland praised the Spaniard.
"Every year he's been there [Toro Rosso] he's been extremely good and he's getting better and better and more consistent," said Rowland. "These cars probably suit him a bit more than before as well with the high downforce. When I raced against him in World Series the cars were quite similar and he's really exceptional in situations like that.
"It's nice to see him maturing and growing. It would be nice to see him in a Ferrari or, who knows, even a Red Bull depending on where people go at the end of the year."
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Good, he deserve a good seat. As it stands today, he risks getting ignored and then replaced by someone else at Red Bull, only to never get a chance in the primary team.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
I'd be surprised if he was at Toro Rosso in 2018. I think he'll go to Renault or Ferrari
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Either of those two or Williams is a good option. He certainly deserve a chance at a good seat.
Klapband
Posts: 366
He can go to a team which is clearly a step up, however both Williams and Renault aren't a step up. Red Bull has options on him till the end of '19. Mercedes this winter wasn't interested in him, they only wanted Ricciardo or Verstappen. Ferrari also has evaluated him, and just like Mercedes, they don't think he's up to the task just yet. He's interesting for midfield teams, which both Williams and Renault are, but so is Toro Rosso.
His best bet at ending up at a top team later on right now are Red Bull and Renault. It probably depends on what Ricciardo is going to do after the '18 season when his contract expires (which will become clear during next season), if Sainz goes to Red Bull for '19 or not. Verstappen still has a contract till the end of '19. Renault only would become a possibility for '19 if they improve massively next season and are a top team.
A Williams seat wouldn't have given him a better opportunity to get into a top team later on, not with Ocon and Leclerc being so talented and becoming viable options for Ferrari and Mercedes in the not so distance future, and Verstappen and Ricciardo being higher up on the wish-list of the both of them. So it seems just abiding his time at Toro Rosso might actually still be one of his best opportunities, with Red Bull preferring to use their own drivers. Right now Renault would be his only other opportunity, if Red Bull wanted to release him, but they have invested massively in his career, and he's their first replacement so they won't let him go. If Renault is able to sign up Perez for next season (their first choice), Sainz will be better off being the first replacement at Red Bull as being anywhere else if he wants get into a top team.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I would love to see him rock the boat at Ferrari and their whole #1 driver charade.