Carlos Sainz Has Red Bull in His Sights as Max Verstappen Exit Rumors Spark Huge F1 Transfer Twist
Formula 1’s 2026 silly season has taken another dramatic turn, with Carlos Sainz reportedly hoping a potential Max Verstappen departure from Red Bull could open the door for him to return to the team.
According to GPFans, BBC analyst Andrew Benson believes Sainz is looking for an opportunity away from Williams after becoming frustrated with the team’s lack of progress during the 2026 season.
Sainz has previously been linked with Audi, but Benson claims the Spaniard could have a much bigger target in mind: Red Bull.
Speaking on the Chequered Flag podcast, Benson said: “He's hoping for Red Bull. He's hoping that Max will leave Red Bull and there'll be a seat open there and he'll get it.”
Sainz and Verstappen are familiar with each other from their time together at Toro Rosso in 2015 and 2016. However, Benson does not expect Sainz to automatically inherit Verstappen’s seat if the four-time world champion were to leave Red Bull.
Instead, Benson believes Verstappen would most likely move to either Mercedes or McLaren, creating a chain reaction across the F1 grid.
“I think what will happen if Verstappen leaves Red Bull, he's only going to two places - he's either going to Mercedes or McLaren,” Benson explained.
He added that the driver displaced by Verstappen at either Mercedes or McLaren could then become the leading candidate to replace him at Red Bull.
The speculation has placed Sainz’s future firmly among the biggest stories of the 2026 transfer market. However, there has been no confirmation from Red Bull or Sainz that a move is being negotiated.
Bearman rules out Aston Martin move for now
Another young driver caught up in the transfer speculation is Ollie Bearman.
The Haas driver has been linked with several potential moves, including Aston Martin, amid uncertainty surrounding Fernando Alonso’s future.
Bearman, however, indicated that Aston Martin is not currently where he sees his future.
“Aston Martin are going through a tough time, but I'm sure that that one day they'll be incredibly strong, but I wouldn't say I'm looking towards them at this stage,” Bearman said on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
The 21-year-old remains focused on eventually becoming a Ferrari driver, having started his F1 career with the Italian team.
“So my goal remains to be a Ferrari driver one day,” Bearman said.
But he also made clear that he does not want to spend several years simply waiting for an opportunity.
“I don't want to be sitting around for three, four, five, years waiting for a seat to become available because there's no guarantees,” he added.
Alonso’s future remains uncertain
Fernando Alonso is also at the center of the 2026 silly-season speculation.
The two-time world champion has been linked with a possible move to Alpine, but reports cited by GPFans suggest Alonso could instead remain with Aston Martin.
Unconfirmed reports have claimed Alonso could be seeking a contract worth around €40 million per year. However, that figure has not been officially confirmed by Alonso or Aston Martin.
GPFans also reports that an announcement about Alonso’s future could potentially arrive around the Dutch Grand Prix later this month.
Perez linked with Williams
Sergio Perez is another driver whose future has become part of the transfer-market puzzle.
According to Japanese publication Auto Sport Web, Perez could potentially leave Cadillac at the end of the 2026 season rather than remaining through 2027.
The report claims Perez’s management has already begun discussions with Williams about a possible 2027 opportunity.
If Sainz were to leave Williams, Perez could therefore emerge as one of the possible candidates to replace him.
Hulkenberg open to staying with Audi
Nico Hulkenberg, meanwhile, has indicated that he would be willing to continue with Audi beyond 2026 if the right conditions are met.
The German driver’s current contract expires at the end of the season.
Speaking to BILD, Hulkenberg said: “As long as I'm having fun, the stopwatch is accurate, and the team wants me, I'll drive for Audi.”
He also stressed that the most important issue is whether Audi continues moving in the right direction.
“Right now, though, all that matters to me is that we're moving in the right direction with the project. And we are. The rest will follow,” he said.
With Sainz, Verstappen, Alonso, Perez, Bearman and Hulkenberg all connected to different strands of the transfer conversation, the 2026 F1 silly season could become increasingly unpredictable.
For now, however, none of the major moves discussed above has been confirmed, meaning the driver-market picture remains dominated by reports, speculation and potential domino effects.
Analysis: Why Carlos Sainz’s Red Bull Dream Could Change the Entire F1 Grid
Carlos Sainz’s reported interest in a Red Bull seat has the potential to become one of the most fascinating storylines of Formula 1’s 2026 silly season. On the surface, it may sound like another driver-market rumor, but the situation could become much bigger if Max Verstappen eventually decides to leave Red Bull.
The key point is that Sainz has not been confirmed as a Red Bull target, and there is no official announcement that Verstappen is leaving. The story is based on comments from BBC analyst Andrew Benson, who said Sainz is hoping Verstappen’s potential departure could create an opening.
That makes the situation particularly interesting because Sainz is not simply waiting for any opportunity. According to Benson, the Spaniard has his eyes on one of the biggest seats available in Formula 1.
Sainz already knows Red Bull’s environment from his time at Toro Rosso, where he raced alongside Verstappen during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. A return would therefore not be completely unfamiliar territory. However, Red Bull would have to decide whether Sainz is the driver it wants to bring back into its senior team.
The biggest obstacle could actually be Verstappen’s next destination.
Benson believes that if Verstappen leaves Red Bull, Mercedes or McLaren would be the most likely destinations. That could trigger a remarkable chain reaction. If Verstappen moved to Mercedes, George Russell could potentially become available. If Verstappen went to McLaren, Oscar Piastri could potentially be pushed into the transfer market.
That is where the story becomes much bigger than Sainz.
A Verstappen departure could affect multiple teams simultaneously, creating opportunities for drivers who currently appear locked into their respective lineups. Red Bull could potentially have access to a driver with proven race-winning ability, while Williams would then need to find a replacement for Sainz.
Sergio Perez has already been linked with Williams as a possible replacement if Sainz leaves. Those reports remain unconfirmed, but they demonstrate how one major move could create several others.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso’s future adds another layer of uncertainty. If Alonso leaves Aston Martin, another valuable seat could become available for 2027. Ollie Bearman has been mentioned in connection with Aston Martin but has made clear that Ferrari remains his ultimate ambition.
The fascinating part of this entire situation is that nothing has been decided yet.
That uncertainty is exactly what makes Formula 1’s silly season so compelling. Drivers are evaluating their options, teams are considering their long-term plans, and one major decision could change the entire competitive landscape.
For Sainz, the dream is obvious: a return to the Red Bull family and potentially a chance to compete at the front. But until Verstappen’s future becomes clearer, the Spaniard’s Red Bull ambition remains a possibility rather than a confirmed transfer.
If Verstappen stays, Sainz’s dream could disappear. If Verstappen leaves, however, the dominoes could start falling very quickly.
Source: [GPFans — F1 Transfer Latest: Sainz 'wants Red Bull', Perez to Williams and Alonso contract claims]
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