Juan Pablo Montoya warns in-form midfield driver to reject ‘poison ivy’ Red Bull seat if they come knocking

Red Bull recently reshuffled their Formula 1 driver line-ups. Yuki Tsunoda was promoted from Racing Bulls just two races into the 2025 season at the expense of Liam Lawson.

It continued a period of upheaval at Milton Keynes, with Sergio Perez paid off last winter and F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar joining the de facto junior team. The combinations should at least be settled until the end of the season from here.

But while most teams already know their plans for 2026, uncertainty persists at Red Bull. Max Verstappen is the only one of the four drivers with a contract for next year.

And even then, Verstappen’s deal contains an exit clause that could become active this summer based on his championship position. Aston Martin and Mercedes have been strongly linked, and there’s even talk of a sabbatical.

Arvid Lindblad, the F2 driver who just became the series’ youngest winner ever, appears to be the next in line for an F1 seat. But it’s not out of the question that Christian Horner will have to shop the external market too.

Juan Pablo Montoya tells Carlos Sainz he shouldn’t ‘touch that Red Bull seat’

One driver who might be on Red Bull’s radar is Carlos Sainz. He’s a product of their academy, of course, and made his debut with Toro Rosso in 2015.

Some Red Bull staff wanted Sainz to replace Perez, but he joined Williams instead after his Ferrari exit.

There was apparently tension between Carlos Sainz Sr and Jos Verstappen when their sons were Toro Rosso teammates, precluding a reunion. But if the world champion were to leave, Sainz could be the A-list replacement.

After a slow start, the Spaniard is now impressing at his new team, having qualified in the top eight in the last two races and bagged four points in Saudi Arabia. But Juan Pablo Montoya reckons he should turn down any offer from Red Bull.

“If I were Carlos, I wouldn’t leave Williams,” Montoya told AS Colombia. “If I were Carlos at this moment I would give Williams two years, unless Mercedes come. For example, if Red Bull came to offer him a seat, if I were Carlos I would stay at Williams.

• READ MORE: What James Vowles said about Mercedes clause in Carlos Sainz contract before Williams announcement

“If I were Carlos I wouldn’t touch that Red Bull seat. It’s like going into a flower garden and there’s poison ivy.”

Carlos Sainz had a genius moment in breakout Williams race

Sainz is under contract at Williams for an initial two years, but there’s an option to extend if both parties are satisfied. He’s waiting to see how they perform under the new regulations.

Williams have become the first team to stop 2025 development as they try to live up to their promises. Sainz’s teammate Alex Albon believes victories are possible in 2027, a reward for the sacrifices they’re making right now.

After Ferrari let him go, it was said that Sainz was unlikely to race for a top team again. But he’ll surely stay on their radar if he maintains his current form at Williams.

James Vowles was thrilled with Sainz’s ‘teamwork’ in Jeddah, where he deliberately gave Albon the DRS benefit so the Thai driver could hold Isack Hadjar. The genius tactic was reminiscent of his Ferrari victory at the Singapore GP.