Sainz breaks silence on Horner's claims over failed Red Bull move

The remarks follow revelations from Horner's memoir Drive, in which the Briton explained that he held talks with Sainz over the possibility of partnering Max Verstappen in 2026.

Horner believed the Spaniard's experience and willingness to work for the team made him a suitable candidate, particularly as Red Bull continued to assess their options for the second seat: "He was an experienced Grand Prix driver, a team player, and I knew he would work his socks off for the team."

According to Horner, the discussions took place shortly before he was dismissed from his position as Red Bull team principal in July 2025. His departure brought an end to the possibility of pursuing the move, with Sainz remaining at Williams.

Speaking to Spanish television programme El Chiringuito during an event in Madrid, the Williams driver was asked about Horner's recent comments concerning a potential move to Red Bull. Sainz appeared reluctant to elaborate on the matter, responding: "Yes, he said I was at his house having dinner. It is what it is."

Beyond his comments on Sainz, Horner also revealed in his memoir Drive that he considered both Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc as potential replacements for Sergio Perez at Red Bull. The former team principal began exploring alternatives in 2023 as the Mexican struggled to match Max Verstappen's performances, with Horner identifying two experienced drivers who could potentially strengthen the team's line-up.

Alonso was particularly interested in the opportunity and approached Horner during the Japanese Grand Prix to express his desire to partner Verstappen the following season. However, Helmut Marko later informed Horner that Verstappen's management was apparently against the move. Leclerc was another name on Horner's list, with the Briton viewing the Ferrari driver as a strong candidate to replace Perez. Horner also made clear that Verstappen himself was not behind the decision to rule out the Monegasque.

What appealed to Horner about Leclerc was not just his outright pace and qualifying performances, but also his attitude towards Ferrari. Despite occasionally making mistakes that Red Bull managed to exploit, the Monegasque continued to support his team publicly, even when results fell short of expectations.

Horner admired that loyalty and believed Leclerc's character would suit Red Bull, particularly if Perez's struggles continued. He also felt the Ferrari driver was becoming increasingly frustrated with his situation at Maranello.