The reigning world champion, the only driver to beat Red Bull after 2022, has been urged to sign Carlos Sainz if he wants real competition from Max Verstappen.
Sainz's fairy tale 2024, a story of heartbreak, adversity and triumph, has its latest chapter written in Australia, with the Spaniard recovering from an appendectomy 16 days before winning the Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz says he couldn't have asked for a better partner for Max Verstappen
This was the latest installment in his saga after the Spaniard was informed by Ferrari before the first race of the season that his contract until 2025 would not be renewed.
He took his SF-24 to the podium in Race 1 in Bahrain, beating teammate and 2025 Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc by 14 seconds.
It's no exaggeration to say that Sainz couldn't have asked for a better start to a season that is essentially an audition for 2025.
The 29-year-old is said to be linked with Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes race seat as a direct replacement, as well as being on the shortlist should Red Bull decide to drop Sergio Perez. ing.
Former F1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck believes it was an easy decision.
“If I were president of Red Bull, I would use all means to find a fair solution to terminate Sergio Perez's contract,” he told Eurosport. Yes, there are clauses in the contract.
“And I would offer the cockpit to Sainz. There is no one better at the moment.”
He believes he is much better and can challenge the Spaniard to triple world champion Verstappen.
“First of all, competition stimulates business, so that's what we want,” he said of a possible intra-team battle between Verstappen and Sainz. “In that case, Max will have to accelerate further, which is definitely possible.
“Secondly, Max's sleep will be even worse if he finds out that Sainz will be his new teammate.
“Furthermore, there always comes a day in any career when you lose your position. Verstappen is number one at Red Bull, but that will end at some point. Either he's too old or a new teammate suddenly puts pressure on him. Either it's on or it's on.
“Such a situation could cause two things: either Verstappen gets even faster, or he collapses.”
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But he is not sure whether Verstappen is happy partnering Sainz, who made his F1 debut with Red Bull's junior team in 2015.
“But it's also possible that due to his role within the team, Verstappen has a say in who he hires as teammates. That way he doesn't have to worry about that, so Perez I can imagine you are satisfied with that.”
Regarding Ferrari's decision to sack Sainz in favor of Hamilton, the German said: “I've always wondered why Ferrari would sack a driver like Carlos Sainz.
“After the race we found out he was still badly affected by the appendectomy. So he did a great job and we should give him even more credit for his win.
This further confirmed doubts about his dismissal.
“Frédéric Vasseur will be angry at his decision. The move from Sainz to Hamilton was completely incomprehensible.”
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