Sainz hints at Red Bull reunion after Williams move

Carlos Sainz has positioned himself as a potential 2026 option for Red Bull, suggesting a reunion with Max Verstappen would create a “very strong pairing” at the front of the grid.

Sainz, who lost his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton for 2025, ultimately signed with Williams after no top-team deals materialised. However, with Yuki Tsunoda struggling since replacing Liam Lawson just two races into the season, speculation is mounting that Sainz could return to Red Bull, a team he left nearly a decade ago.

Before his departure, former team boss Christian Horner had hinted Red Bull might look beyond its traditional driver pipeline.

“Of course, you're always open to what is outside of that,” Horner said. “If we feel the necessity to do so, we would not be afraid to do so again.”

Asked about the latest rumours, Sainz told the High Performance podcast: “The only thing I could say is I genuinely get on well with Max. “We had a rivalry in our first year in Formula 1 at Toro Rosso, but it was a relatively healthy rivalry, and now we get on really well.

“So if that's the reason (why Red Bull wouldn’t sign him), I don’t understand it. I think we would actually be a very strong pairing in Formula 1.”

Reflecting on their shared 2015 debut season, Sainz described the intensity of competing alongside Verstappen.

“We were both trying to beat each other in every FP1, FP2, FP3,” he said. “That level of competitiveness, that pressure, it builds you. And I wouldn’t change it.”

The 30-year-old also revealed that he delayed committing to Williams in hopes of a more competitive opportunity.

“One of the reasons I took the decision so late was because I was still hopeful that I would have a competitive car for 2025,” he said. “I wanted to win again to prove to everyone I still belong here.”

Despite his move down the grid, Sainz says his motivation remains undiminished.

“Being world champion is my purpose. That’s what keeps me going,” he said. “Formula 1 is my obsession. I can’t stop thinking about it, my data, my setup, what I’ll say to my engineer tomorrow. I want it as soon as possible.”