Spanish F1 driver Carlos Sainz will continue driving for Toro Rosso for a third consecutive year after Red Bull picked up the option on his contract.
This year, Sainz has scored 18 points and even managed to finish P6 in Spain, which then led to speculation about his future and other teams’ interest levels. Red Bull however put those rumors to rest by extending the 21-year old and keeping him at Toro Rosso for another season.
“We took up his option earlier this week, so he is committed to Red Bull for an extra 12 months,” said Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner.
“As with all the drivers they are contracted to Red Bull Racing, and then we have the ability to place them where we want. He is currently at Toro Rosso, which is where he will be next year.”
Horner stated that Sainz’s current teammate, Daniil Kvyat, will also be retained next year, adding that he’d be surprised if Sainz were to have a new teammate for 2017.
“I think Dany [Kvyat] is continuing his development, you can see he is finding his feet now, and there is not an obvious candidate knocking on the door at the moment that would warrant that seat.”
Carlos Sainz is set to continue his strong 2016 campaign when Formula 1 action picks up in Austria this weekend. Sainz has currently out-scored Kvyat in three of four races since becoming teammates, except for Baku where neither managed to finish the race.
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