Why Red Bull must do everything for Sainz's return

''Carlos (Sainz) is a great driver and he was available for next year and we did think long and hard about that. But in the end, Checo has meant a lot to this team. He is a real team player and is still performing at a very high level.''

These are statements made by Christian Horner just after the signing of Sergio Perez's new contract. Christian Horner's team boss answered the question that will have been going around in many people's heads: why not take Sainz? With an evaluation looming and Perez getting worse, you can ask that question again.

Is Sainz the ideal man for Red Bull?

Sainz is still without a contract for 2025. The 29-year-old driver has to make way for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari and has offers in his pocket from Williams, Audi and Alpine. However, Sainz has still not tied the knot, much to the frustration of the teams waiting for him.

For Red Bull Racing, this would be the ideal time to strike. Clauses in Perez's contract give Red Bull the chance to part with him despite his just-signed contract. This could be mid-season, or at the end of 2024.

Indeed, Sainz has an edge over all competitors for that seat. Sainz is younger and also seemingly faster than Perez. With an inferior car, Sainz already scores more points than Perez, let alone in the same car. Sainz has also shown more in recent years than Daniel Ricciardo, who in turn has been beaten by Lando Norris and is now also struggling alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Sainz has held his own handsomely in a difficult situation alongside Charles Leclerc for years.

Liam Lawson is of course also being mentioned as Perez's replacement, but with five Grands Prix behind his name, a place at Visa Cash App RB would obviously be better for the New Zealander. He just needs to show it for a full year first, as Sainz has been doing for years.

The perfect solution for Red Bull Racing

For Red Bull Racing, it would also solve a second problem. After all, the possible departure of Max Verstappen also still hangs over the market. If that departs, and Perez and Ricciardo are the drivers you are left with, the drop-off is huge. Copy Perez's performance and Red Bull is the fourth team on the grid. With Sainz within the team, that stronger driver would already be in place, although Sainz is obviously not of Verstappen's level either.

The argument that is always cited for not taking Sainz is the battle between Sainz and Verstappen at Toro Rosso. However, that situation cannot be compared to the current one. The two are much more mature by now and Sainz will also not be so close that it will cause problems. In 2015, Verstappen was already the fastest over a season; with a mountain of experience, that lead for Verstappen is only likely to increase now. Especially in the team that has worked with him for years.

That one downside, namely that Sainz and Verstappen might not get along, far outweighs the benefits of Sainz's arrival. You get a faster driver who will be closer to Verstappen and therefore can be of strategic service in races. Sainz will also score more points, helping in the battle for the world title, and with Sainz, you bring in a driver who will make any departure of Verstappen less disastrous.

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy