Red Bull F1 boss Horner says Sainz will stay at Toro Rosso for 2018
Christian Horner is adamant Carlos Sainz will remain at the Toro Rosso Formula 1 team in 2018 despite the Spaniard's claim he is unlikely to stay for a fourth term
Sainz said on Thursday his target for 2018 was to find a way into the senior Red Bull team, adding he was doubtful about spending a fourth year at Toro Rosso if he could not do so.
But Red Bull boss Horner insisted Sainz - who's deal is with the Red Bull team and is in effect loaned to Toro Rosso - was under contract for an extra year and would stay at the squad.
"We've exercised his option as well, so he's under contract," Horner told Sky F1.
"We have an option on him for next year and the year after, so he'll be in a Toro Rosso again next year."
Asked about Sainz's suggestion that he could move on, Horner said those comments were "disingenuous" to those that had given Sainz his F1 break.
"I don't know where he thinks he'll be then!" said Horner.
"Contracts are clear.
"You have to remember that he only got an opportunity in F1 because of Red Bull investing in him in the junior years, and it's a little disingenuous to be making comments like that when a lot of investment goes into these guys to give them the opportunity.
"Without Red Bull he wouldn't be sitting in an F1 car."
Horner said Sainz was unlikely to be loaned to Renault for 2018.
"I can't imagine that scenario," he said.
"Toro Rosso are ahead of Renault at this point in time, and doing a good job, and it wouldn't make sense to loan him out."
He added Daniel Ricciardo's Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory had not had any impact on the future of the Australian or team-mate Max Verstappen with Red Bull.
"It doesn't make any difference to the contracts," said Horner.
"We're very clear on what our drivers and who our drivers are for next year, which are the same numbers that are on the car this year.
"There's nothing really to report on that. The contracts are clear, so both drivers are under contract for next year, 100%."
Previous article
The winners and losers of F1's silent war
Next article
Austrian Grand Prix F1 practice: Lewis Hamilton fastest on Friday
The floundering fortunes of F1’s many Lotus reboots
Team Lotus ceased to exist in 1994 - and yet various parties have been trying to resurrect the hallowed name, in increasingly unrecognisable forms, ever since. DAMIEN SMITH brings GP Racing’s history of the legendary team to an end with a look at those who sought to keep the flame alive in Formula 1
Why the 2021 title fight is far from F1's worst, despite its toxic background
OPINION: Formula 1 reconvenes for the Russian Grand Prix two weeks after the latest blow in ‘Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton’. While the Silverstone and Monza incidents were controversial, they thankfully lacked one element that so far separates the 2021 title fight from the worst examples of ugly championship battles
How F1’s other champion to emerge from 1991 thrived at Lotus
Mika Hakkinen became Michael Schumacher’s biggest rival in Formula 1 in the late-90s and early 2000s, having also made his F1 debut in 1991. But as MARK GALLAGHER recalls, while Schumacher wowed the world with a car that was eminently capable, Hakkinen was fighting to make his mark with a famous team in terminal decline
The forgotten F1 comeback that began Jordan’s odyssey
Before Michael Schumacher – or anyone else – had driven the 191 (or 911 as it was initially called), Eddie Jordan turned to a fellow Irishman to test his new Formula 1 car. JOHN WATSON, a grand prix winner for Penske and McLaren, recalls his role in the birth of a legend…
The squandered potential of a 70s F1 underdog
A podium finisher in its first outing but then never again, the BRM P201 was a classic case of an opportunity squandered by disorganisation and complacency, says STUART CODLING
The other notable Monza escape that F1 should learn from
OPINION: The headlines were dominated by the Italian Grand Prix crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who had the halo to thank for avoiding potentially serious injury. But two days earlier, Formula 1 had a lucky escape with a Monza pitlane incident that could also have had grave consequences
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
Who should Alfa Romeo sign for 2022's F1 season?
OPINION: With Valtteri Bottas already signed up for 2022, all eyes are on the race for the second seat at Alfa Romeo next year. Antonio Giovinazzi is the current incumbent, but faces a tough competition from appealing short and long-term prospects
