Breaking news
Formula 1
Sainz won't leave Toro Rosso in 2018 - Horner
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner is adamant that Carlos Sainz will be at sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso next year, despite the Spaniard claiming he's unlikely to remain with the outfit.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Jul 7, 2017, 10:51 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sainz made it clear on Thursday that his priority is to find a way into Red Bull Racing, before adding: "If that doesn't happen, a fourth year in Toro Rosso is unlikely, and I'm not going to close the door to any opportunity."
However, Horner insisted a day later that Sainz will be staying put in 2018.
Like other Toro Rosso drivers in the past, Sainz's contract is actually with Red Bull Racing, and he is in effect loaned out to the Italian team.
"We've exercised his option as well, so he's under contract," Horner told Sky F1. "We have an option on him for next year and the year after, so he'll be in a Toro Rosso again next year."
Asked about Sainz's suggestion that he will move on, Horner said: "I don't know where he thinks he'll be then! Contracts are clear.
"You have to remember that he only got an opportunity in F1 because of Red Bull investing in him in the junior years, and it's a little disingenuous to be making comments like that when a lot of investment goes into these guys to give them the opportunity.
"Without Red Bull he wouldn't be sitting in an F1 car."
Horner then moved to deny suggestions that Sainz could be placed at Renault in 2018: "I can't imagine that scenario.
"Toro Rosso are ahead of Renault at this point in time, and doing a good job, and it wouldn't make sense to loan him out."
Baku win changes nothing for 2018
Horner also insisted that Daniel Ricciardo's Baku win has not had any impact of the future of either the Australian or teammate Max Verstappen.
It's been suggested that, had RBR not logged a victory this year, its drivers would have found it easier to break free of their current contracts, and look elsewhere.
"It doesn't make any difference to the contracts," Horner said.
"We're very clear on what our drivers and who our drivers are for next year, which are the same numbers that are on the car this year.
"So there's nothing really to report on that. The contracts are clear, so both drivers are under contract for next year, 100 percent."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Sauber drivers in the dark over new team boss
Next article Force India: Perez/Ocon clash was "inevitable"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
More from
Carlos Sainz
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
Formula 1
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
More from
Red Bull Racing
Why Max Verstappen ended F1 practice early in Brazil – Red Bull explains
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
6 h
Why Max Verstappen ended F1 practice early in Brazil – Red Bull explains
"Unacceptable downshifts" – Max Verstappen explains what's behind a recurring F1 radio complaint
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
11 h
"Unacceptable downshifts" – Max Verstappen explains what's behind a recurring F1 radio complaint
Latest news
Kaden Honeycutt: "I put my nuts on the dash" to win Homestead and NASCAR Truck title
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
1 h
Kaden Honeycutt: "I put my nuts on the dash" to win Homestead and NASCAR Truck title
Chase Briscoe leads NASCAR Cup Homestead practice; Larson brushes wall and Reddick wrecks
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
Chase Briscoe leads NASCAR Cup Homestead practice; Larson brushes wall and Reddick wrecks
Hamlin and Bell left with what could have been in NASCAR Chase
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
Hamlin and Bell left with what could have been in NASCAR Chase
Why Max Verstappen ended F1 practice early in Brazil – Red Bull explains
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
6 h
Why Max Verstappen ended F1 practice early in Brazil – Red Bull explains
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe