Christian Horner has a huge decision to make over who is going to drive for Red Bull Racing in 2025 and former world champion Nico Rosberg believes he’s spotted a clue on who might fill that seat.
Max Verstappen is the team’s number-one driver and all of their preparations concentrate on getting the maximum out of the Dutchman.
However, speaking to Ted Kravitz during the grid walk on Sky Sports F1 ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Rosberg believes Christian Horner is keeping his options open right now.
Sergio Perez is a man under pressure with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
He appears to have settled into his role as Verstappen’s number two having gone nearly a whole calendar year without a race win despite being in the fastest car on the grid.
With Ferrari closing the gap at the front of the grid, Christian Horner may be considering his options.
Nico Rosberg has now shared that he saw Horner talking to Carlos Sainz’s father in the paddock, with his son linked with Red Bull.
It’s not what Perez will want to hear especially as in the one race that Verstappen didn’t finish this season, it was Sainz who stood on the top step of the podium.
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Nico Rosberg spotted Red Bull boss Christian Horner speaking to Carlos Sainz Sr.
If Red Bull decide to part ways with Sergio Perez, then Carlos Sainz is the obvious option on the grid.
Yuki Tsunoda has had a brilliant beginning to the campaign, although he didn’t have the best weekend in China.
Tsunoda isn’t being considered by Red Bull regardless of how well he performs, while Daniel Ricciardo hasn’t done himself any favours with his performances this year.
It’s too early to promote Liam Lawson straight into the senior team, so it’s not a surprise that Rosberg spotted Horner chatting with the father of Red Bull’s best alternative.
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Christian Horner already planning for 2025
On the grid walk, Ted Kravitz said: “Can Sergio [Perez] do to Max [Verstappen], what Lewis [Hamilton] did to Lando [Norris] in the Sprint yesterday?”
Nico Rosberg replied: “He can but he’s not going to do that because he’s not going to be racing for Red Bull anymore next year [if he does]!
“Because he’s in the midst of his contract negotiation, Sergio Perez needs to behave, especially against Max Verstappen.
“You know that they have an offer out to Carlos Sainz and I saw daddy Sainz speaking to Christian Horner yesterday because Christian Horner has apparently been a bit stingy on the offer.
“So, they’re trying to get a couple more million out of him!”
Perez was arguably too conservative at the start and Horner wouldn’t have been happy that he allowed Fernando Alonso past his Red Bull.
It meant Max Verstappen could once again drive off into the distance to assert his dominance but highlighted the gap between the two teammates.
Ferrari didn’t have the best qualifying and were left fighting with the two McLarens, and for once this season, Charles Leclerc was the lead car ahead of Sainz.
All of these intra-team battles give team principals food for thought when determining their future line-ups.
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