F1 News: Christian Horner Meets with Williams as Rumors of Carlos Sainz to Red Bull Explode

Alex Harrington | Nov 3, 2024

Oct 20, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz (55) of Team Spain before the start of the 2024 Formula One US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing since 2005, has recently piqued interest following his visit to the Williams motorhome during the Brazilian Grand Prix. This meeting, initially thought to involve discussions about Franco Colapinto's future with Red Bull, has spiraled into speculation about a potential reshuffling of drivers that could see Carlos Sainz joining Red Bull Racing.

His visit was with James Vowles, Team Principal of Williams, a team currently rebuilding. This meeting has ignited hours of conversation within the paddock and stirred media discussion over future line-ups for 2025.

The reason behind Horner being at Williams was originally understood to revolve around Franco Colapinto, the 21-year-old Argentine driver who joined Formula 1 mid-season, replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams. Colapinto has shown promising results, highlighted by his points-scoring debut in his second race, drawing the attention of top teams, including Red Bull. His potential move to Red Bull's RB team for 2025 seemed plausible, particularly with the brand looking to strengthen its lineup amid struggles around Sergio Perez.

As the rumors of Colapinto's potential role with Red Bull intensified, another theory emerged, proposed by Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok. He speculated that Horner might be considering bringing Carlos Sainz to Red Bull, allowing Williams to retain Colapinto.

"Hmm… If I was Horner, I would be negotiating a price to get Carlos Sainz into the big team and let Williams keep Colapinto," Chandhok suggested via Sky Sports F1. This theory gains traction with the current performance pressure on Perez, whose form has led to a slip in the Constructors’ Championship standings for Red Bull, now trailing behind McLaren and Ferrari.

The discussions around Carlos Sainz, the Spanish Formula 1 driver with a strong career at Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari, potentially returning to a Red Bull-affiliated team, opens possibilities for both teams. This move is interesting given his history with Max Verstappen during their time as Toro Rosso teammates. Chandhok addressed this, noting:

"Yes yes, the Max camp apparently don’t want him but it’s been a decade since they were teammates (get over it!) and this year has shown they need two drivers scoring."

Sainz's confirmed stint with Williams for 2025, partnering alongside Alex Albon, places Williams in a strong position. However, Red Bull’s interest adds an element of uncertainty. The notion of Sainz moving to Red Bull isn't entirely new, as Red Bull once considered him post-Ferrari. Yet, they chose stability with Perez at that time. Now, pressure on Perez and plans for the future may push Red Bull to reconsider this earlier choice.

The competition for seats within the Red Bull setup is intense, not just involving external drivers like Sainz and Colapinto, but also existing talents within their fold. Liam Lawson from New Zealand has emerged as a viable candidate for a main seat after replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB. Yuki Tsunoda, also part of the sister team, remains a potential option. Both Lawson and Tsunoda seek to prove their worth to secure a coveted position at Red Bull Racing.

Vowles sees value in nurturing Colapinto, and Red Bull's interest makes his case strong.

The timeline for deciding these moves is pressing, with resolutions expected before the end of the 2024 F1 season, particularly the Abu Dhabi finale.