Sainz hopes saga over F1 future comments is over

Carlos Sainz Jr. hopes that people can “turn the page” following his comments about his Formula 1 future potentially lying outside of Red Bull’s programme, having faced a backlash from Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.

Sainz said over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend that a fourth year with Toro Rosso in 2018 was “unlikely”, suggesting he would look for an F1 seat outside of Red Bull’s setup if no position with its senior team was available.

Red Bull Racing team principal Horner and advisor Marko hit back, reminding Sainz he is under contract for next year with Toro Rosso and that his entire career had been funded by the energy drinks giant, urging him to show more loyalty.

Speaking to the official F1 website, Sainz admitted he felt uncomfortable having Horner and Marko on his back, but feels the issue has now resolved.

“I have my opinion and I said it in that very moment. Maybe I could have used a different wording to put it,” Sainz said.

“It is not something that I enjoyed, seeing Helmut Marko and Christian Horner going against me, but it sometimes happens in a Formula One career.

“But it should be over, so turn the page.”

Sainz stressed that his primary goal is to race for Red Bull’s senior team in the future, despite its seats currently being occupied by Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen.

“It is my one and only target to be a Red Bull driver in the future,” Sainz said.

“That is what I want, and that is what I have said a hundred times before.

“And if one answer said in the heat of the moment is spinning out of control, that is just 'modern times’.”