With rumours circulating about his immediate and long-term future, Carlos Sainz Jr. has said he has learned from the confusion surrounding his relationship with Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso.
Sainz, who is currently in his third year with Red Bull’s junior outfit, had originally said that he did not expect to be with the team for a fourth season. But it emerged shortly after that an option to keep him at Toro Rosso for 2018 had indeed been taken up.
Ahead of the British Grand Prix, Sainz revealed that the confusion had been settled and that he had learned from the experience.
“As a 22-year-old driver you learn from these kind of things and the air was cleared immediately once we started our conversation in Austria,” he told Autosport.
“At that point it was forgotten, I kept focusing on my job like I’ve done all season. I think there was a bit [of confusion] and I’ve learned from it. Today I’m calm because I don’t have a reason to really be too stressed.”
In a bid to repair any potential damage in the relationship between Sainz and Red Bull, the Spaniard spent time socialising with Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko during the British grand prix weekend.
“After Austria we cleared everything, clarified everything, what was said, what was not intended to be said and we explained everything to each other,” he added.
“We were playing tennis [at the weekend] together, had a barbeque, enjoying our time – me versus Christian Horner and Marko was the referee.
“So we had a good time, the air is clear, and I’m a Red Bull driver inside the Red Bull programme confirmed for Toro Rosso next year.”
Sainz also addressed to growing rumour that he could be joining the Renault Sport F1 Team as soon as the next race at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“Many people are coming to me about this rumour and for me it’s just a rumour because in the end, not one single comment you receive from your bosses who are actually managing your career,” he said.
“If you don’t hear anything from them, you expect it to be just a rumour so I don’t comment about rumours. Of course I’m looking forward to changing this result [a DNF at Silverstone] in Hungary with Toro Rosso.”
