Teammates once but friends forever, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz are one of the iconic pairs of F1. From their stint together at McLaren, this duo has built a very strong bond. And it remains the same even now when they are rivals fighting for separate teams. It is no surprise that Sainz and Norris celebrate each other’s achievements. Despite the competition, their camaraderie breaks all boundaries. However, when the Brit was enjoying his secured stay in McLaren, the Spaniard was struggling for a future in F1.

But now that the clouds of doubts and suspense are off, Carlos Sainz has found his prospects at Williams. And Norris, just like any other supportive friend, has congratulated the ‘Smooth Operator’ for his new journey ahead. But, the McLaren No.1 also thinks of an alternative future for Sainz. What if Mercedes or Red Bull had looked at Carlos?

“Carlos deserves a lot”: Lando Norris wonders if Red Bull should’ve considered Sainz

In a recent conversation with Sky Sports, Lando Norris opened up about his thoughts on Carlos Sainz’s move to Williams. Norris was asked if he was surprised that neither Red Bull nor Mercedes considered Sainz. “I don’t know what their plans are, honestly the easy one is just to say Red Bull should have gone there,” said Lando. As the 24-year-old, he knows Carlos better than Sergio Perez so he can speak about his former teammate more than the Mexican. Norris continues, “Carlos deserves a lot, he’s one of the best drivers in Formula 1. He’s proven that countless times and I’m a good friend of him.”

The Madrid-born is famous for his tactical brilliance. Time and again he has proven his mastery, making him an asset for his team. Lando Norris further said: “I’m happy for him [Carlos] that he’s still in F1. I’m happy he got a drive and that he can try and bring Williams back up and him partnering with Alex [Albon] I think would be good for F1 at the same time. So, that’s a good thing but I’m sure a lot of people would have loved to say that he would have gone to Red Bull potentially but that’s not my decision.”

The Briton isn’t incorrect. Many in the F1 community had thought Carlos to be the perfect replacement for Sergio Perez. However, when Christian Horner and Co., did not approach the Spaniard, fans were a bit disappointed. But, with a “100%” commitment to Williams, Sainz is ready to move on. And even Lando Norris knows that the ‘appendix-free’ duo could become James Vowles’ key to resurgence. This also means Sainz and Norris’ on-track rivalry could reach new heights from 2025 onwards, but ‘Carlando’ (Carlos + Lando) off the track would remain the same.

Why didn’t Red Bull consider Carlos Sainz?

The tales of Red Bull this season aren’t secrets. When Sainz’s replacement was announced in February, some fans and experts expected him to return to Red Bull. In fact, with Sergio Perez’s contract coming to an end in 2024, hopes were high. But then, Red Bull extended Perez’s contract for 2 years. Was this the best decision by Red Bull? Given Perez’s performance initially the deal looked promising. However, the downfall began shortly afterward. Once again, rumors of the Mexican’s replacement began.

But this time, Sainz was completely out of the picture. Why? Because Red Bull was planning to hand over the seat to someone of their own, namely – Daniel Ricciardo or Liam Lawson. While Lawson’s entry looked probable, Ricciardo’s struggles continued at VCARB. However, it was surprising to know that Horner didn’t fish much into the transfer market. Compared to Lawson and Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz was in a much better form. But now that Perez has once again secured his seat and Ricciardo has set himself in his team, Liam Lawson’s F1 future has strolled into darkness.

One weird situation had arisen, not only in Red Bull but also in the driver market; especially with Carlos Sainz not picking a team, other drivers were facing difficulties in securing their futures. But now, with his path leading to Williams, ‘Smooth Operator’ has his goal set. He is ready to bid farewell to Ferrari. At the same time, good wishes from his friend Lando Norris add to the celebratory moment.

Do you think Red Bull should’ve considered Carlos Sainz? Let us know in the comments.