Red Bull urged to explore Sainz F1 'clause'

Red Bull should pursue Carlos Sainz in an effort to replace Sergio Perez for the 2025 season, according to former F1 driver Martin Donnelly.

Perez's future within the Red Bull squad has been called into question in recent months amid a series of lacklustre performances.

The Mexican driver has failed to score a podium result since the Chinese Grand Prix in April and has struggled to stay competitive in the close battle at the front of the F1 field.

His disappointing form has contributed to Red Bull's slip to third place in the constructors' championship ahead of the final three rounds of the season.

Despite signing an extension with Red Bull earlier this year, various drivers have been linked to the 34-year-old's drive for next season.

When asked who he would field alongside Max Verstappen in 2025, Donnelly exclusively told RacingNews365: “Sainz. Sainz has the experience. 

“He is currently winning races in a car that perhaps is good in qualifying, but in other races, they disappeared.

“In COTA, they [Red Bull] were nowhere - that could be tyre life, that could be track conditions which wasn’t the same as before due to resurfacing in certain places. There are always mitigating circumstances.”

F1 teams race for constructors' title, not drivers'

Donnelly has theorised that Sainz has a clause in his contract, something Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko alluded to earlier this year.

Williams team boss James Vowles shut down any suggestion of the clause existing.

With next year's F1 title fight tipped to be another close affair due to the cars not undergoing major changes ahead of a 2026 rule switch-up, Donnelly sees Sainz as Red Bull's best option to partner Verstappen.

“He has a clause in his contract that if any of the big teams like Red Bull, like Mercedes, came calling for him, he could come out of that and jump into the seat,” Donnelly said.

“If I’m looking for my driver and I want my car in the right area of being developed going forward, [I’m taking Sainz].

“And more importantly for Red Bull, getting consistent constructors’ points, because that’s where they’re being let down by Sergio.

“You have got two good drivers at McLaren who are consistently getting points, and also at Ferrari. That’s why Red Bull is third in the constructors’ points.

“The teams race for the constructors’ championship because that’s where they get the big money.

“They are not necessarily racing for the drivers’ championship because they don’t get any money for that.”