F1 News: Carlos Sainz Sr Spotted With Christian Horner And Helmut Marko During Pre-Season Test

Carlos Sainz's Ferrari contract expires at the end of 2024.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz's father Carlos Sainz Sr, who is also a racing driver, was spotted meeting Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and team advisor Helmut Marko during the pre-season testing session in Bahrain. 

Key Takeaways:

• Carlos Sainz's father, Carlos Sainz Sr, was seen in discussions with Red Bull's Christian Horner and Helmut Marko during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
• Sainz Sr is expected to assist his son in securing a contract with a Formula 1 team beyond 2025.
• The F1 driver market is active with 13 contracts expiring this year, and Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari has heightened negotiations among drivers and teams for positions in the evolving Formula 1 landscape.

It is expected that Sainz Sr will play a role in helping his son secure a contract with a Formula 1 team beyond 2025, following his departure from Ferrari at the end of the current season.

Sainz's exit marks the arrival of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton into Ferrari next year, who shocked the world early this month after making the announcement. The impact of the news was such that it sent the F1 driver market into a tizzy even before the commencement of the 2024 season.

What has amplified the effect further, is the expiration of 13 driver contracts at the end of the current year, and the beginning of a new era of regulation in two years in 2026. Hence, drivers whose contracts are set to expire this year have initiated discussions with other teams to ensure their positions on the grid in the forthcoming seasons.

Sainz, who has been linked with teams such as Audi (arrives in 2026), Mercedes, and now Red Bull, is quite naturally expected to be discussing terms with rival teams. The presence of his father discussing matters with Horner and Marko has sparked fresh speculation of him driving alongside Max Verstappen next year, replacing Sergio Perez. 

There have been strong indications that Sergio Perez is considering a departure from the team, and a photo circulated on the internet shows him engaged in discussions with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff.

it's the first day back and we already got this wtf pic.twitter.com/LL2nUvYcyj

— clara (@leclercsletters) February 21, 2024

Being the sole non-Red Bull driver to secure a Grand Prix victory throughout the previous season, Sainz is anticipated to approach the leading Formula 1 teams in pursuit of a racing seat.

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