Highly rated Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz Jnr, is targeting a seat at a top team for 2018. Sainz has said that he has made bosses at Red Bull Racing aware of his plan, as a 3rd season with the junior outfit looms.
“I think Red Bull perfectly knows – 2017, it’s a tough year for me, it’s the third year for me in Toro Rosso,” Sainz said.
“I think I could have, if options would have been open, I could have done a jump to Red Bull or any other team.
“So, I think they [Red Bull] perfectly know, I want to be in a top team in 2018, I think they perfectly know, I am already starting to be ready for that.
“As long as they know and keep that in mind, I am OK to stay one more year in Toro Rosso.”
Red Bull’s current first-team duo Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, both have contracts that run to the end of 2018. Carlos also has a long term deal with the energy drink giants, as Red Bull hold the option to keep him within their formula 1 stable for either team.
“I am contracted here [Red Bull]. The option [on 2017] has been executed. They have option on me until 2019 or 2020,” he said.
“They can keep executing option on me, doesn’t matter if it’s Toro Rosso or Red Bull.
“I had a conversation with Helmut [Marko] and Red Bull, I have let them know that I am ready.
“I need to rise one step in F1, I feel ready for it. They perfectly understand and they are with me in that area.”
This is a clear message from Carlos to ‘other’ teams on the grid, as he seeks a top drive. Renault were reportedly interested in him for next year, and also there are the rumours of interest from Ferrari.
There are a lot of contradictions in this article………..
Surprised the headline wasn’t “Max is out for 2018!” 8-P
Toro Rosso might have a pretty good car in 2017 with a Renault engine and rule changes. Maybe he shouldn’t jibberjabber to much and wait and see what the 2017 package holds, he could regret saying to much already.
If he jumps ship to what turns out to be an inferior team then that’s a Team Loss.
If he stays and the next STR buggy turns out to be a dud then that’s a Car Loss.
Just Sainz’n
:p
P.S. Yes, I’m bored.
Lots of words but all he says is that Red Bull has an option on him, if they let it expire he is a free man.
The past has not been very kind to TR drivers that not made the cut to the mother team.
Good luck Carlos.
you mean sainz is more regarded than kvyat? according to grandprixrankings.com sainz is inferior. yes sainz has 5 more points but kvyat has 2 more DNFs due to mechanicals. another case of politics and pedigree overcoming raw talent?
Well mister Sainz what did you do that Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes or even Williams or Force India must contract you instead of Bottas, Perez, Grosjean, Magnussen, Kvyat, Ocon, Wehrlein? Because you are good but nowhere special!
Start making your point on track, where you lost out to your last years teammate on any single point during all races together. And your new/old teammate seems to have found his spirit once again and is giving you a hard time last two races. And he is the guy that beated you with a big margin in GP3 and he has top level experience wich you don’t.
So being good is not good enough I guess if you want to fight for a seat at the high end of the grid.
I would pick Bottas, Perez, Grosjean and Ocon any time before I would pick you. Magnussen, Kvyat and Wehrlein are in the same level I think, so that would make it harder. But Kvyat been on RBR and Magnussen at Renault and McLaren speaks in their favour.