Nico Rosberg claims Christian Horner has made 'stingy offer' to Sergio Perez replacement
Nico Rosberg has revealed some insider information about Red Bull's contract talks with a possible Sergio Perez replacement.
Nico Rosberg has revealed that Red Bull have already made an offer to sign Carlos Sainz as a replacement for Sergio Perez for the 2025 season and beyond, but that Christian Horner has been ‘a bit stingy’ with the finances behind the deal. The Ferrari star is a target for the reigning champions, as well as Mercedes and Sauber.
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The 29-year-old was left without a seat for next year when Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was confirmed at the start of February, but three podium finishes in four starts in 2024 has thrust his name into the front of the shop window as this year’s silly season gets underway.
Red Bull are considering a move for the three-time Grand Prix winner but with Sergio Perez demonstrating newfound consistency, the Milton Keynes-based outfit are keen not to rush their decision on who will partner Max Verstappen in 2025.
Discussing the interest in Sainz with Sky Sports F1 ahead of the race in Shanghai, Rosberg said: "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!"
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Horner commented on the speculation linking Sainz with the second Red Bull seat earlier in the weekend. "As you can tell with the level of interest that we have had from other drivers in our seats, for a driver of Carlos' calibre, he wants to be in a winning car,” he explained.
"And whilst we have one seat available for next year, his target, inevitably, is that seat. But his problem is that Checo is in that seat and he's doing a really good job so for us as a team. It's a luxury situation but one that we don't need to rush and we'll take our time to consider the options."
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If Sainz is angling for more money out of Horner and Red Bull then he won’t have done himself any favours with his performance at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Madrid-born racer put together a messy weekend that nearly produced a disastrous crash with team-mate Charles Leclerc in the sprint race.
Sainz then followed up this close call by spinning into the wall during the second part of qualifying. He was fortunate that the ensuing red flag gave his mechanics time to repair the car. The Spaniard made another sloppy move in the Grand Prix on Sunday, locking up heavily while trying to pass Lance Stroll after his pit stop.
