Carlos Sainz Snr has expressed his wish that his son, Carlos Sainz Jnr, had secured a seat at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, stating that his son would have embraced the challenge of racing with the reigning four-time World Champion. The opportunity to compete as Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, according to the rally legend, would have been a significant and exciting prospect for Sainz Jnr.
The missed chance of a Red Bull pairing
Red Bull was instrumental in launching Carlos Sainz Jnr’s Formula 1 career, where he first paired with Max Verstappen at their junior team Toro Rosso in 2015. However, Verstappen advanced quickly, moving to Red Bull’s main squad just over a year later. Meanwhile, Sainz followed a different trajectory, racing for Renault, McLaren, Ferrari, and ultimately Williams. Rumors of Sainz joining Red Bull in 2024 intensified after Ferrari announced the signing of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season, yet Sainz continued with Williams instead.
For Carlos Sainz Snr, the prospect of his son sitting next to Verstappen at Red Bull was particularly appealing. Speaking to Kronen Zeitung, he admitted,
“I would have liked to see him next to Max in the Red Bull,”
expressing his belief that the challenge would have been something Sainz Jnr relished.
Despite this hope, the opportunity did not materialize. Sainz Snr further remarked,
Image of: Max Verstappen
“You could ask Carlos yourself. He might say no to you, but I think he would also like to be driving for Red Bull.”
Adjustment after Ferrari and settling into Williams
The unexpected renewal of Charles Leclerc’s contract at Ferrari, coupled with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, left Sainz Jnr without a seat at the Italian team, a disappointment felt deeply by his family. Nevertheless, Sainz’s move to Williams has brought renewed positivity. Carlos Sainz Snr noted that Williams is a team that respects and trusts his son, providing an environment where he feels supported.
While Williams is largely focused on the 2026 season, when substantial technical changes are expected, the current campaign has shown promising signs. The team has accumulated 54 points so far, ranking fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. Of these, 42 points have come from teammate Alex Albon, while Sainz has contributed 12, including four consecutive points finishes after a difficult start with the team.
Reflecting on the departure from Ferrari, Sainz Snr said,
“Of course, Ferrari is one of the best teams in Formula 1. We were sad, naturally. It was quite unexpected. But that’s life. Sometimes you are lucky and get a contract and sometimes you have to leave.”
On his son’s new environment, he added,
“There is a team behind him that trusts and respects him.”
The prospect of a new leadership role for Sainz Snr
As Carlos Sainz Jnr continues to adapt at Williams, his father is contemplating his own future, considering a bid for the presidency of the FIA. The elections, scheduled for later this year, see incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem seeking a second term after succeeding Jean Todt in 2021. While Sainz Snr has yet to confirm his candidacy fully, he is giving serious thought to the role.
Sainz Jnr has publicly supported his father’s possible ambition but also cautioned about the political challenges involved. Speaking to the media, including PlanetF1.com, he explained that the idea of running did not initially come from his father but grew from external encouragement. He said,
“We’ve been talking about it for a while now. Interestingly enough, I think it’s something that didn’t actually come from him, like a lot of people were kind of putting it in in his head, and little by little, he started considering it.”
He added that his father had not yet assembled a campaignteam and that he would decide whether to proceed based on how he views the situation. Although wary of the political aspect, Sainz Jnr believes his father is uniquely suited to it. He commented,
“I think that’s a negative side now of it, the politics, but I think that if there’s a guy that could remove politics from it, it could be my dad because he sticks to common sense and has very basic rules of going about life.”
He also noted,
“And I think that’s why so many people went to him, to push him maybe to potentially do it. So there’s politics, he will probably not enjoy that part of the work, but he knows it’s part of it.”
Looking ahead to the future of Sainz and Formula 1
The missed chance of Carlos Sainz Jnr joining Red Bull as a teammate to Max Verstappen remains a notable “what if” scenario in Formula 1, especially considering the potential for such a high-profile rivalry. However, Sainz’s steady performances at Williams demonstrate resilience and the ability to adapt within the sport.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Snr’s possible transition from rally legend to FIA president could signal a shift in motorsport governance, especially if his approach to leadership is rooted in practicality and a desire to minimize political influence. As both father and son navigate these crossroads, their actions will likely shape their own legacies and influence Formula 1’s broader narrative over the coming years.
