1
There could be more than meets the eye to the re-signing by Red Bull of Carlos Sainz for 2017. Reports in recent days, backed by comments by Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost and Red Bull's Christian Horner, have suggested the energy drink brand will definitely take up the one-year option in 21-year-old Spaniard Sainz's contract.
Those reports were initially interpreted as a rejoinder to speculation that Renault is eyeing Sainz as a potential race driver for the French works team for 2017. But Marca, a Spanish sports daily, thinks Sainz is still in the frame at Renault. Actually, the newspaper said a deal between Sainz and Renault could be formalised within two races.
The current negotiations, Marca claims, are between Renault and Red Bull. Currently, Renault supplies customer engines to Red Bull that the team rebrands as Tag-Heuer. The report suggested selling Sainz to Renault could be part of a deal to improve the engine deal terms.
Marca said Renault boss Frederic Vasseur met Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko in Baku. Marko admitted in an interview with Brazil's Globo that other teams have expressed interest in Sainz. "He has a contract with us," he said. "The best option is to keep working as he has done with STR, keep developing with the team and become even more competitive next year."
As for Renault, Marko insisted he is happy with Red Bull's engine supplier. "In 2015 I was not smiling because we had no chance, and mostly not because of us," he said. "Now Renault is giving us a good engine, we will soon have an even better version and - most importantly - a completely new engine for 2017. I am sure that we will fight for the title," Marko added. (GMM)
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
236,800 comments on Renault
27 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Renault
Replies (1)
Login to replyWorld Traveller
Posts: 668
That's good news for Sainz because by RB there is in the near future no seat available.
To stay an other 2 years at TR good not be he's target!