Carlos Sainz has shared how his Formula 1 aspirations were nearly cut short after Red Bull delivered a stark ultimatum early in his career.
The Spanish driver, now a multiple Grand Prix winner, first entered Red Bull’s junior programme in 2010. His path to F1, however, was anything but smooth. After a promising start in karting and lower formulae, Sainz faced a critical moment in 2014 when Red Bull made it clear that his future in the sport hinged on a single condition—winning the Formula Renault 3.5 title.
Sainz rose to success
Sainz had already gained some experience in F1 machinery, taking part in a 2013 young driver test at Silverstone, where he drove for Toro Rosso as well as Red Bull’s championship-winning RB9. Despite this, his junior career had not been particularly dominant, with his most notable success being the 2011 Formula Renault 2.0 title, where he outperformed Daniil Kvyat and Stoffel Vandoorne.
By 2014, the pressure was immense. If he failed to secure the Formula Renault 3.5 championship, Red Bull made it clear there would be no F1 opportunity for him. Competing against the likes of Pierre Gasly, Oliver Rowland and other now well-known single-seater drivers, Sainz rose to the occasion. With seven victories, he claimed the title and secured a place on the 2015 Toro Rosso F1 grid alongside a 17-year-old Max Verstappen.
How did he react to the threat?
Reflecting on this pivotal moment in his career, Sainz acknowledged the vital role his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., played in helping him navigate the intense pressure.
“I remember I was starting to get close to Formula 1, it was those one or two years before making it, and Red Bull told me, ‘Okay, next year is your last chance, you go into (Formula Renault 3.5), and you either win or there is no space for you in Formula 1,‘” Sainz told Rolling Stone, according to racingnews365.
“I’m 18-19 years old, so you feel the pressure and I suddenly realised that from believing I was always going to make it because you are naive when you are younger, you say, ‘I have the talent, I’m winning, I’m going to make it’, that I might not.
“I was lucky to have my dad, who was already world champion at the time saying, ‘This is what you are missing to be world champion’ and I won [FR3.5] and I made it to Formula 1.
“But if I hadn’t done that switch, and if I didn’t have my dad there to help and guide me to go up in my preparation, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Since his F1 debut, Sainz has built a reputation as a consistent and intelligent driver. After three seasons with Toro Rosso, he moved to Renault in 2017, followed by an intense two-year stint at McLaren. In 2021, he joined Ferrari, where he secured his first F1 victory at the 2022 British Grand Prix. For the 2025 season, he joined Williams.
Now regarded as one of the sport’s most capable racers, Sainz’s journey serves as a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity.
Feature Image Credit: Williams Racing
