Red Bull tells Carlos Sainz Jr to focus on FR3.5 title, not F1 seat
Carlos Sainz Jr has been told by Red Bull that winning Formula Renault 3.5 this year must come before any push to get him in to Formula 1
The Spaniard has been linked with a role at Caterham this season, either in a race or testing capacity.
That is on the back of a push by the team's new owners to cement a closer relationship with technical partner Red Bull, which backs Sainz's career.
But despite the increasing speculation surrounding the youngster's F1 chances, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko insists that there are no plans to slot him in on a grand prix weekend at this stage.
"If he wins WSR, he will be given the F1 test possibility in Abu Dhabi after the season", Marko told AUTOSPORT.
SAINZ READY TO WAIT
Sainz has said he would jump at any opportunity to take part in F1 this year, but equally is eager to become the first Red Bull-backed driver to win the FR3.5 title.
"To be an F1 driver is my dream, so of course if any opportunity comes up, if it's with Caterham or anyone else, I would grab it with both hands," Sainz told AUTOSPORT.
"Everyone keeps telling me how different everything is in F1, so it would be good to gain experience of it, including learning about all the meetings you have to have, and everything that comes with the driving.
"Whatever the situation, if it's racing in F1 then it's gaining F1 experience and that is always going to be a good thing.
"But at the same time I am happy focusing on FR3.5 and I am enjoying myself here, so if there is not an opportunity in F1 before the end of the year then I will not be depressed.
"I want to become the first Red Bull driver to win this championship - that's my main goal this year."
Sainz, who took over Kevin Magnussen's FR3.5 seat at DAMS for this year, currently leads the standings by 39 points with six races to go.
Share Or Save This Story
F1 2019 game includes official driver transfers for first time
F1 testing: Toro Rosso's Albon on top, Mercedes starts to show pace
Michael Schumacher's top 10 F1 victories
Why Williams is still feeling the weight of expectation
Sainz handed unprecedented penalty after F1 British GP
Indecent proposal? How Sainz's big idea to change F1 qualifying might work
Verstappen on latest Red Bull woes: "Desperate? I'm already past that stage"
"You're not allowed to make a difference" – Verstappen says the fastest F1 drivers are penalised
The Red Bull seat nobody is talking about – and why that's the biggest compliment of all
How much time has Aston Martin gained with its F1 Hungarian GP update?
Antonelli hit with grid drop for yellow flag infringement in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying
Hamilton slapped with grid drop for impeding Piastri in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying
Russell to undergo Mercedes engine change but avoids F1 Hungarian GP grid drop
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments