Red Bull Racing has reportedly severed ties with its driver, Carlos Sainz Jr, and the Spaniard is no longer involved in the future of the Austrian team. This is according Germany's Auto Bild after Sainz has criticized Red Bull and Toro Rosso in recent weeks in a number of different interviews.
With Red Bull reportedly severing connections with Sainz, the team will let the driver move to Renault, despite holding a contract with Toro Rosso for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Currently, Renault's Managing Director, Cyril Abiteboul, and Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko are negotiating a deal to get Sainz out of his Toro Rosso contract, although the Enstone-based team would have to raise an expected $8 million.
If Renault are able to raise this amount of money, Sainz would replace Jolyon Palmer at Renault for the Hungarian Grand Prix to partner Nico Hulkenberg, while Red Bull Junior Pierre Gasly would replace Sainz at Toro Rosso.
"If a driver does not want to stay, if the love is extinguished, you can not force a contract with contracts, you should let go," said Red Bull CEO Dietrich Mateschitz when talking to Auto Bild at the Austrian Grand Prix last week.
Chris Soulsby
Replies (20)
Login to replyyellowfly81
Posts: 79
How exciting!
Black Book
Posts: 1,714
It sure is. Renault can use a good quick driver next to Hulkenburg. Although Sainz has complained a lot last weeks about Red Bull and I think it's not the way you should leave a team, a company who invested so much in your career!
dr002
Posts: 141
My question is, who would move to a Red Bull seat if Verstappen or Ricciardo were to leave at the end of the year?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Whomever they deem fit. Be it Kvyat or someone else. Maybe even Sainz, should they want it.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Eh, so he managed to get out. How interesting. Will be fun to see how he can perform against Hulkenberg.
Black Book
Posts: 1,714
The way he managed himself out is pretty crazy of course, but interesting yes :)
I'm very curious about his performance level at another team. I wouldn't be surprised if he struggles a lot in the beginning.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I expect as much, but I think he'll do well enough. He is a good driver, and he is familiar with how the Renault engine works, when to gather energy and all that. But we'll see! I suppose this means that Palmer is on his way out of F1. But who do you think the new TR driver will be?
Black Book
Posts: 1,714
I agree. Palmer has nothing to do in F1, only to look at it on a seat. He's not F1 material. The logical follow up would be Gasly, but there are stories about Kubica now as well. I personally would be surprised if they take back Sebastien Buemi!
Otherwise I have no idea who would and could jump into that seat. I don't see RB hiring Giovinazzi for example. So it must be a RB junior or a PR stunt
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
No, it'll definitely be a RB junior. Could very well be Buemi, he seems to be the only qualified one, if Marko's words are to be believed. A shame about Palmer, he is a good driver, but he has been so dominated by Hulkenberg this year, and had a hard time against K-Mag last year. I guess he just isnt F1 material. Hope he'll have a better time in another series.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Pff the second renault seat... if redbull is letting him go its because they dont want him. Good luck to him would like to see 2 new drivers in toro rosso.
F1racefan97
Posts: 113
Leaves Toro Rosso in a mess, who can they realistically sign? And shame in some ways, renault seemed the best way to get kubica back on the grid :(
Aswin
Posts: 14
Max will be the next one to leave Red Bull end of this season
NEXT SPARE VAMP
Posts: 1,874
I wouldn't be too sure of that.
Kurosawa
Posts: 112
this is not true, check your sources before posting such gossip
Auto Bild is a gossip magazine, they make stuff up all the time
BrRacing
Posts: 9,926
Er is een hele hoop gaande achter de schermen. Max schijnt al een voorcontract getekend te hebben met Ferrari en alles komt nu in een stroomversnelling. Red Bull zou laaiend zijn op Max en ze hebben gedreigd om hem vanaf Hongarije terug bij TR te plaatsen. Dat ze Sainz nu laten gaan geeft ze de ruimte om Max te degraderen en de vervanger voor Max staat al klaar en deze gaat aankomende week testen in de Red Bull simulator. Zijn naam, Robert Kubica.
Sainz dus naar Renault, Max terug naar TR vanaf Hongarije en Kubica neemt plaats naast Ricciardo.
Bron: F1geruchtenPUNTnl :-)
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Thanks for the comment. However this is the english part of f1today.
To translate this rumour; max signed precontract with ferrari; releasing sainz in order to put max back to tr; kubica in for max in redbull.
My thoughts are: No way that scenario is going to play out.
NEXT SPARE VAMP
Posts: 1,874
Too lazy to translate your text into English, my dear Brracing?
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
It's one of those things where I'll believe it when I see it.
It makes no sense whatsoever for basically anybody involved.
A move to Renault would be considered lateral at best for Sainz, at this point. If he switches in 6 months, Renault might be in a better place.
Renault is currently looking into getting Kubica back on track, which would be an absolute dream for their marketing department, not to mention he is one of the most competent drivers out there, if he can get close to 100%
Red bull has also been very adamant about keeping their drivers, and the fact that there is no out-clause. It's hard to imagine Ricciardo and Verstappen both sticking around for years to come, which would open the door for Sainz.
I dunno, it could happen, but it defies logic.
Barron
Posts: 625
Are you serious? Kubica hasn't even done a single race simulation let alone a full race. He's driven a bunch laps sure, but on his own. I think the FIA medics would want to pass him too. Have you noticed in every recent Kubica photo there are none showing his right arm. I think there may be a way to go yet, but you livened up my breakfast with your ideas...?
Barron
Posts: 625
My reply was for BR Racing by the way. An interesting post!