Sainz: I want to be in a top team

Carlos Sainz and his minders have ramped up their desire to move from Toro Rosso to a top team, frequently suggesting the Spaniard has done enough to justify promotion by Red Bull.

The problem is that Red Bull, in Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, have two of the best young drivers on the grid and three into two simply won’t go.

Sainz is advised by his rally legend father Carlos Sainz Snr and council which Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko refers disparagingly to the “Madrid protection zone” and likens the Toro Rosso driver to “a young bird in the nest.”

Right now Sainz is talking up his desire to move up the ladder. Some in the paddock suggesting he has done enough warrant a big team move, despite the fact that he has made a couple of self-inflicted gaffes this season – Bahrain and Canada spring to mind – which suggest his temperament may need some maturing.

Nevertheless during an interview with Racer, Sainz said, “I think it sounds a bit arrogant when you say: I can do no more’ to prove [I’m worth a Red Bull seat].”

“For me there’s always more that you can do, but I feel like I’m doing a lot. I think in any other situation or any other year, I would be definitely close to signing a deal now with Red Bull, or they would be close to executing the option on me. But the situation is as it is. I know that.”

“I don’t like to be the third driver for anyone, that’s for sure, that’s why I really hope Red Bull can give me the chance of driving for them next year, because this is my dream, and this is what I’m really looking for,” mused Sainz.

As mentioned it is highly unlikely that Red Bull will dispense or sell off Verstappen or Ricciardo.

However it is true that the pair have been linked to Ferrari as a possible replacement for Kimi Raikkonen should this be the Finn’s final season at Maranello.

But Marko is quick to pour cold water on such talk, “Ricciardo and Verstappen have fixed contracts. Ricciardo for 2018, and Verstappen with some clauses for even much longer.”

“That also applies to Carlos Sainz. He is also bound to us in the longer team. Until 2019. Only we can end contracts – the drivers cannot,” revealed Marko to Sport Bild.

And hence the dilemma. The energy drinks organisation’s top three drivers are welded into deals that keep them where they are for 2018 and in some instances beyond.

However it does not mean that a massive cheque to their coffers will not release one of the trio. You would expect Max would have the highest price tag, ahead of Daniel and Carlos the cheapest option for a team wanting to spend.

So let’s imagine that Red Bull are open to a transfer deal for Carlos… of the big teams, the touted options are Ferrari and Renault with Mercedes highly unlikely for obvious reasons.

A move to Ferrari is every drivers dream, but would they really want Sainz at Maranello. Does he fit the profile of a Ferrari driver? Too young? Not yet the finished article? How do we keep Papa out of the garage?

And even if they decide to opt for youth (a huge deviation from tradition) they are grooming Italian talent Antonio Giovinazzi for that purpose.

For sure there is a lobby in the paddock cheering for a move to Ferrari for Carlos, but typically Marko was scornful of such suggestions, “Ferrari did not ask for Carlos, this was in the dreams of Carlos senior. So far no one has called us.” Report here>>>

Such a move may happen one day, but unlikely to occur in the near future would be a fair bet.

This leaves Renault as a destination for Carlos junior.

It is hard to imagine Jolyon Palmer sitting in a Renault or even on the F1 grid next year. Thus it is more than likely a seat will be available there.

Right now smart money is on Fernando Alonso moving there should he depart McLaren, but Renault have played down such speculation. Citing too many excuses not to have him there for them to really be wanting the man who won two F1 world titles with them over a decade ago

Sergio Perez has been on the team’s radar for some time, but the Mexican has Red in his eyes and is waiting out Kimi’s tenure at the team with the hope he gets the drive he has coveted for some time.

Thus Sainz is a realistic option for the French team. Their ‘relationship’ with Red Bull is long-standing and if anything a deal may be brokered between the two organisations before their bickering implodes.

Sainz would then get his wish to move to a big team, but he accepts that decisions are not yet ready to be made, “I think at the moment it’s a bit too early for them to know what’s happening in the top team.”

“It’s a bit too early for me to go to Red Bull and negotiate, or start talking about it. It’s such an important year for Toro Rosso and for myself that it doesn’t work to start talking that early about a potential upgrade to Red Bull or a potential change.”

“They know that I want to be in a top team, and they know what I am capable of. They know that I don’t want to be the third driver for anyone, and I think they’re starting to also know that I don’t deserve to be the third driver for anyone,” ventured Sainz.

#F1 Big Question: What’s the best thing for Carlos’ future in F1?

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