Crimson Bull crew principal Christian Horner has indicated why the crew didn’t take into account hiring Carlos Sainz Jnr to switch the struggling Sergio Perez.
Sainz was beforehand a member of Crimson Bull’s junior academy and made his F1 debut alongside Max Verstappen at their second crew, recognized on the time as Toro Rosso in 2015. Nevertheless after Verstappen was promoted to Crimson Bull, Sainz by no means had the chance to hitch him and later joined a succession of the crew’s rivals.
Earlier than this season started Sainz realized he would lose his Ferrari seat for 2025. Perez struggled for a lot of this season however Crimson Bull solely confirmed right this moment, 10 days after the championship’s conclusion, that he is not going to drive for them subsequent 12 months.
The announcement got here regardless of Crimson Bull handing Perez a two-year contract extension, which they made public in June. Horner indicated the choice was taken earlier, which dominated out the potential for selecting Sainz as Perez’s alternative.
“I believe Carlos is a superb driver and we’ve seen that clearly this 12 months at some instances,” he instructed Sky. “You’ve received to have a look at all the varied standards and dynamics.
“On the level that we prolonged Checo’s contract it’s a must to do not forget that he was second on the earth championship and ending on the rostrum within the first 4 out of 5 races.”
Crimson Bull motorsport guide Helmut Marko claimed earlier this 12 months Verstappen and Sainz had a poor relationship throughout their time at Toro Rosso. “The environment between the 2 at Toro Rosso was fairly poisonous,” he mentioned.
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Horner mentioned Perez took the choice to go away the crew however advised he intends it to be short-term.
“On the time we signed [the deal] he’d had 4 podiums in 5 races so it was a logical extension simply to take away hypothesis of which there was already an excessive amount of across the crew,” mentioned Horner.
“After all, any contract has sure efficiency clauses and standards inside it so it didn’t make any distinction to this choice of Sergio’s to step away and take a sabbatical.”
He confirmed RB duo Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are the 2 drivers into account to associate Verstappen subsequent 12 months.
“We’ve got the entire info that we want,” he mentioned. “Basically, it’ll be a alternative between Yuki and Liam.
“Each have gotten robust credentials. We examined Yuki lately on the tyre check in Abu Dhabi for an opportunity for him to work with the engineering crew. Liam has accomplished lots of testing with us behind the scenes this 12 months as effectively and has pushed very effectively within the six or seven races that he’s had.
“So we now have all the knowledge, we’re simply it and contemplating all of that, talking with the engineering crew as effectively. And we’ll come to a conclusion within the coming days.”
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