F1 | Marko: “Verstappen doesn't want Sainz as a teammate? It's up to Red Bull to decide."

The candidacy of Carlos Sainz for the post-Ricciardo it is not yet to be discarded. The Spanish driver, sacked by Renault, did not appear to be at the top of Red Bull's list of preferences, which for 2019 was more oriented towards entrusting the vacant seat to Pierre Gasly, profile most liked by Max Verstappen. The Dutch pilot himself, in fact, seems to have vetoed the hiring of Sainz, with whom relations are not idyllic: this latest indiscretion, launched a few days ago by the Spanish newspaper Trademarks, however, was promptly denied by Helmut Marko, consultant to the Milton Keynes stable. “The rumors are wrong: Red Bull decides the drivers” – said the 75-year-old Austrian a Diario Sport.

Meanwhile Sainz, interviewed by Auto Motor Und Sport, expressed his appreciation for the Red Bull destination: “At the moment I'm still a Renault driver, but if Red Bull asked me to come back, of course things would change: I owe a lot to Red Bull" - He admitted. “Mutual respect is great. I also have an excellent relationship with Helmut Marko: it is thanks to him that I am in Formula 1.".

There has also been on Sainz's trail for some time McLaren, ready to possibly replace one of Fernando Alonso or Stoffel Vandoorne.