Red Bull should ‘break Carlos Sainz’s contract’ and sign him from Williams, should Max Verstappen choose to leave the team next season, according to seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya. The Dutchman has committed his future to his current employers for 2026, but beyond then, his whereabouts are being heavily contested.
Verstappen’s current contract runs until the end of the 2028 season, but, as evidenced by Mercedes’ aggressive pursuit this year, the 27-year-old has performance-based levers that can get him out of his deal. Helmut Marko confirmed as much during an interview with F1-Insider. “From his statements, it was clear that he wanted to stay, and it makes sense, even if the exit clause had become actionable,” he said. “No one knows what the situation will look like in 2026. On the engine side, Mercedes declare themselves the class leader, but there is no proof.
“On the chassis side, you don’t know whether someone will hit the jackpot. So there is a lot of uncertainty, and, purely from his perspective, it makes much more sense to stay, look at all of this, and if perhaps we are not competitive next year, then reconsider his decision.”
If Red Bull don’t take a step forward when the new technical regulations come into effect and Verstappen decides his future lies elsewhere, the four-time world champion will effectively have the opportunity to walk into any Formula One team he desires, such is his current pulling power.
“When Max Verstappen comes out, maybe next year, and says I’m free, how many teams are really gonna be open to taking him?” Montoya said to Casas De Apuestas. “McLaren are out of the picture.
“Ferrari? Maybe. I think Carlos Sainz could go back to Ferrari, but he would also be great for Red Bull. Red Bull needs experience. If Max says he’s leaving, who are you going to bring in? Another rookie?
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“And you’re then going to end up with four rookies in two struggling teams? I would have taken Carlos in a heartbeat. Red Bull should go for Carlos and break his contract and take him out of Williams.”
Sainz was let go by Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season to make room for Lewis Hamilton, who moved over from Mercedes in a blockbuster transfer. He has since landed with Williams, where he has been outscored 54-16 in the Drivers’ Championship standings by team-mate Alex Albon.
However, as a four-time Grand Prix winner, Sainz’s pedigree is unquestionable, and he enjoyed a successful stint with Red Bull’s sister team, Toro Rosso, before leaving partway through the 2017 season to replace Jolyon Palmer at Renault.