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Max when answering the question about driving for Red Bull in 2025 told a whole story around it rather than just confirming with "yes" or something. Things like that make me think there is still A chance that he might go to Merc. On top of it The Times reported that Jos Verstappen, Mark Mateschitz and Toto Wolff went for dinner during the Austrian GP. That's definitely an interesting combo isn't it?
Interesting conversation with Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard in which they discussed the possibility of Carlos Sainz going to Red Bull as a reserve driver. It made some sense, especially in light of the performance problems that are plaguing Checo.
I think checo has a performance clause, which if he does not fill this year, he may be dropped at the end of it. Carlos Sainz I believe is waiting for that chance to grab the Red bull seat. Edit: Welp, looking at red bulls statements for Perez I guess I was right
Carlos should take the Merc seat on a one year prove it deal. If it works, great, then if Mercedes is the best engine for 2026, he will have options if they don't want to resign him.
I don't believe Max bolts for Merc at the end of this season. If anything, it'll be for 2026 when the tech regs change and there's uncertainty about where RB will be in the pecking order. Max's best chance to win another title in 2025 is to stay at RB.
Wow, when you mentioned an RB seat, I immediately thought you meant Checko’s might become available if he doesn’t pull his socks up. Even though Perez has a new contract, we know that with Red Bill that means nothing - if they want him gone, they’ll send him on his way! Interesting what you have to say about Max’s seat though. I agree with you that it does seem as though Sainz has been holding on a bit longer than necessary to make his mind up about his future. I hope he doesn’t leave it too late.
Why not? Surely they won't put Lawson in that car if Verstappen pulls out, just for the fun of it... RB don't have a driver of Carlos' caliber in their ranks. And Carlos was never after Perez's drive, shining Max's shoes for the foreseeable future? No way, José.
@Redlingstein - Take your crazy pills like the doctor told you to. You can't keep skipping them before you get on the Internet! Also Riciardo, Gasley, Albon, and Lawson disagree with your insane takes.
There has to be talks with Horner about this... as I said, Horner isn't known for being daft. Surely Red Bull must have a contingency plan should Max jump ship... and it is rumoured Max has 150 million+ reasons for that. ;)
Because they are looking to put Kimi Antonelli in that seat. So if Kimi doesn't race there next year already, then that seat is only available for one year. Sainz isn't interested in that and Mercedes isn't interested in Sainz for one year. They'd hire a place holder, someone who doesn't really have any options and will support Russell or doesn't have many options. Bottas returning or even Ocon would make more sense.
Sainz is leaving Ferrari because he doesn’t want a 1 year deal and they couldn’t come to terms on a multi year deal. Same for Merc cuz new kids on the block.
@@CJBarry55he’s leaving ferrari because there’s no seat for him, not anything to do with number of years. Lewis starts there next season. Lewis + Charles means no Sainz. They don’t have three cars.
Merc wouldn't guarantee Lewis a multi year drive and the same would apply to Carlos. Merc are waiting on F2 driver Antonelli to be ready for the F1 drive in the next year or so. Antonelli could be testing the Merc as soon as Sept 2024. But Carlos could go to Merc for one year, it's a race winning car after all.
Could it also be that in fact Sainz' favorite option would be joining Mercedes, but Toto holding him off as long as there are still talks with Verstappen about switching from RB to MB? Of course, Sainz will still have options at Stake/Audi, Alpine, Williams and probably Haas, but he's faced with closing windows of opportunity.
If Max does go to Mercedes then Horner will be on the phone to Mark Webber trying to get Piastri......that might open up a spot for CarLando again....back to smooth operations at McLaren.....
The fact that Red Bull extended Perez's contract until the end of 2026 suggests they must be pretty confident Max will stay. To my mind that can be the only reason they kept Perez, it certainly isn't because of his results! Wild theory time.....With McLaren breathing down their neck, Perez's awful form could really damage Red Bull's place in the constructors championship, if not this year then definitely next year. Could they actually decide to buy Perez out of his new contract and replace him with Sainz instead? It would be expensive and highly unusual but is that a possibility?
Checo could always be dropped this season, for sure there will be clauses in his contract. If I were a betting man, I'd be tempted for him to be let go 3/4 through this season. The top of RB seems like a mess, hear reports of the adults bickering. I like Checo he's had some memorable races but if this form continues, even with Horner and Marko banging heads, they can't keep the status quo.
@@Lick-My-Salty-Balls I know what you mean, I seem to remember some pretty negative articles regarding Jos. Mind you, considering the utter nonsense the media pump out it could all be total BS.
I have serious reservations over the new PU suppliers in 2026 they will surely take 3 -5 years to develop a reliable punchy power - going from the back of the grid to front does not happen quick but going the opposite way could happen very fast - Mercedes backed cars seem like the safe bet - Carlos has to make the right decision as he’s hopped a few times and this is his last home
I don't believe Max is going anywhere next year. Carlos is probably waiting fro the best deal financially, because the rule changes fro 2026 make things less predictable. Look how long its taken Mercedes to get back in the game.
Marc Marc Marc 🙄 didn’t you learn anything from the fernando vs Ron Dennis days? Seriously, can you imagine how toxic it will be the relationship, max vs Toto? Think about it! And IF that happens, how long it will last max at Mercedes. 🤷🏻♀️ it’s written on the wall!
Sainz is playing a dangerous game. He is not a top tier driver, but he is behaving like one. He'll end up without a seat or in a Williams if he keeps biding his time.
Sainz and Leclerc are pretty evenly matched so I see him as being among the top and most of the issues are car and team related. I'd rather throw in Sainz as a replacement for Checo than anything else and I suspect that this is what he's gambling for. It's a matter of time before Checo is out given his less than optimal results compared to Verstappen.
No way Max will give up one of the best cars (Red Bull) for not one of the best cars (Mercedes). Maybe in 2026 if he believes Mercedes is a better bet for the new engine formula, but not in 2025. Max wants a winning car and team. But I think Carlos Sainz might still have a chance at Red Bull considering the poor shape of Perez after his contract extension.
Not sure if you have realized, but the performance difference relative to the competition between Red Bull and Merc has changed quite drastically over the last few months. All in the favour of Merc. Hard to say what it will look like in weeks or months but it is something to consider.
Put Max in a Merc and he is now already fighting for wins. Russell proved that and they are probably not giving Lewis all the necessary tools anymore. The Merc is competitive and the RB20 is a pretty difficult beast to tame.
@@marcelvanrijn1388 voorlopig wel ja. Maar er komen weer wat jonge jongens aan. Nooit te hoog van de toren blazen want Fernando was ook al twee keer WDC aan 25 jaar
Let's start by calling a spade a space. Sainz got kicked out of Ferrari and is now struggling to get a seat he really wants because he's not good enough. Checo has been abysmal. If Sainz was a top class driver RBR would have snapped him up to hedge the Max uncertainty. He's a fool to not take a seat on offer and hold out for a potential top tier seat. There are lots of young drivers with good skills and hungry to drive. Wager: Sainz has no seat in 2025 other than Williams!
At the risk of being ridiculed at a later date with a never ending stream of "this aged" replies, unlike someone like Hamilton, I don't think Max gives a fuck about the money. There's nothing mercedes can offer him that would sway him. He's already got more than enough.
Don’t think you have to wait to be ridiculed with a comment like that. Hamilton hasn’t put up with racing at the top of F1 for 17 seasons because of the money (he makes tons of that in his other business interests outside of F1). Your point is valid about Max though, he’s in F1 for the racing but there again so is Lewis by the reason I’ve already outlined.
