Carlos Sainz Sr has revealed his regret at his son Carlos Sainz Jr being overlooked for a 2025 Red Bull drive after leaving Ferrari.
Sainz was forced to find a seat away from Ferrari for 2025 after Lewis Hamilton was poached from Mercedes in early 2024, with the destination of the Spanish racer one of the biggest stories of the first half of last season.
He was linked with a direct replacement for Hamilton, and even with a Red Bull drive as Sergio Perez's form was underwhelming - the Mexican eventually having a two-year contract extension ripped up after the season was over.
By this time, Sainz had long committed to joining Williams, with the team already scoring 54 points in nine races, its best start to a season since 2017.
But Sainz Sr, who is considering a bid to run for the presidency of the FIA, believes a potential seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull was a strong possibility.
"Ferrari is one of the best teams in Formula 1, so of course, we were sad, it was quite unexpected," Sainz Sr told Klronen Zeitung.
"But that's how life is. Sometimes you get lucky and get a contract, and sometimes you have to leave. He is happy now at Williams. He has a team behind him that trusts and respects him.
"We are very grateful to Red Bull. They brought him into Formula 1 when he was young and funded his career.
"I would have loved to see him alongside Max at Red Bull. It would have been a super competitive team.
"I'm sure he would have loved the challenge. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. You have to ask him yourself, and he might say: 'No', but I think he would have loved to drive for Red Bull."
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