Carlos Sainz referred to himself as a “jobless” driver (for 2025) after winning the Australian Grand Prix. But soon after his comment, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said he “couldn’t rule any possibility out,” referring to potentially hiring Sainz to partner Max Verstappen. At face value, this potential opening of doors for the Ferrari driver’s arrival looks fine. But former Ferrari engineer Ernest Knoors believes that there is a deeper conflict in actuality.

There are a lot of reports claiming that there is a certain ‘power struggle’ within Red Bull. Christian Horner is said to be at a crossroads with Max Verstappen, his father, Jos Verstappen, and team advisor, Helmut Marko. With this as the backdrop, Knoors believes that Horner signing Carlos Sainz would give him an edge within Red Bull.

Knoors told Motorsport’s Dutch outlet, “If Christian feels that Max Verstappen and Jos Verstappen and camp Helmut Marko are putting a little bit of pressure on him, then you could say, ‘Well, someone like Carlos Sainz. If I bring them in, then I have someone with whom I can potentially become champion.’ That’s what he’d think. And then actually increase the pressure on Max. I don’t really think Max is eager to have Carlos Sainz as a teammate.” (Translated via Edge)

Do you think the tensions will run high if Sainz proves to be a challenge for Max Verstappen’s championship chances in the future? Take a look at ex-Ferrari Manager, Peter Windsor’s contradictory opinion before you decide.

Peter Windsor reckons Max Verstappen would be okay with Carlos Sainz at Red Bull

Max Verstappen has become accustomed to having a “Second Driver” alongside him. A wingman, so to speak. But Carlos Sainz is no wingman. He is more than ambitious to win a world championship and Red Bull could prove to be the answer to those ambitions. Peter Windsor believes that if this is to happen, the Dutchman would have no issues in reuniting with his past teammate.

“There’s no way now that the top teams can’t be thinking seriously about Carlos Sainz,” Windsor said on his YouTube channel. “At Red Bull now you’d have to be saying Carlos Sainz-Max Verstappen, not a bad combination. I, personally, think Max would be okay with Carlos Sainz in the other car and maybe that’s what they will do now. Maybe as a result of what’s happened, this has opened a door at Red Bull for Carlos Sainz to replace Sergio Perez.”

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“That’s My Seat Ollie [Bearman]”: Carlos Sainz Came Back to Saudi Arabia Paddock With Vengeance, Claims F1 Pundit

Two contrary opinions from two former Ferrari Insiders. Carlos Sainz could be the driver that the Milton-Keynes outfit needs. But will it come at the cost of their current World Champion?