Carlos Sainz Jr confirms Caterham F1 talks amid Red Bull backing
Rising Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr has acknowledged recent discussions about a possible Formula One debut with Caterham following the team's change of ownership.
Carlos Sainz Jr has confirmed that he and his management held talks with Caterham about a possible Formula One debut during the 2014 season. The 19-year-old Spaniard, then leading the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, was considered for a race seat following Caterham's recent change of ownership.
Speaking to Spanish daily AS, Sainz Jr said discussions had taken place but that no deal had been reached. The talks involved his father, former world rally champion Carlos Sainz, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko, and new Caterham advisor Colin Kolles. The possibility was raised that Sainz Jr could replace Kamui Kobayashi in the Caterham line-up for selected races, with speculation that Red Bull might forgive some of Caterham’s gearbox supply costs as part of the arrangement.
Red Bull's role and future plans
Sainz Jr was at the time the leading prospect in Red Bull’s junior driver programme and widely tipped as a contender for a Toro Rosso seat in 2015. He made it clear that while a debut with Caterham was possible, his long-term goal remained a full-time drive with Toro Rosso. Sainz indicated that any move would require agreement from both Red Bull and Caterham, and that Red Bull would have the final say on his immediate future.
The scenario echoed Daniel Ricciardo’s 2011 debut, when Red Bull placed him at the Kolles-run HRT team for half a season before promoting him to Toro Rosso. Sainz Jr said that gaining Formula One mileage, regardless of the team’s competitiveness, would be valuable for his development.
No agreement reached for 2014 debut
Despite the discussions, Spanish media reported that the parties could not reach an agreement for Sainz Jr to join Caterham during the 2014 season. Sainz confirmed that while talks had taken place, nothing was signed and his focus remained on winning the Formula Renault 3.5 title and pursuing a future with Toro Rosso.
Caterham, under new management after its mid-season sale, had been exploring options to refresh its driver line-up. The team was also negotiating with suppliers and partners as it sought to stabilise its finances. Sainz Jr’s potential arrival would have marked another example of Red Bull placing its juniors with smaller teams as a stepping stone to a full-time Formula One seat.
