The 2014 season could be the prelude to Carlos Sainz jr’s Formula 1 career, according to the 19-year-old Spaniard’s namesake and father, hot on the heels of news that another Red Bull-backed teen, Russian Daniil Kvyat, has secured the second Toro Rosso seat for 2014.
Sainz jr was also in the running to succeed Daniel Ricciardo at the Red Bull-owned team, and might now be considered the front-runner for a 2015 debut.
World rally legend Sainz admitted 2014 will be a “very important” season for his son’s Formula 1 aspirations.
Sainz said his son will surely complete a second season in the Formula Renault 3.5 series next year.
“This year has been a race to catch up experience,” he said. “He is only 19 years old, but if he is in the championship fight hopefully it will be the eve to Formula 1 for him.”
Asked if his son might combine his racing next year with an F1 test role, Sainz snr answered: “I know nothing of that.
But “It would be ideal,” he is quoted by EFE news agency, “because it would mean he is getting the maximum possible experience in F1. But I have no idea.”
“I know that if [anything] in the rules should be changed it is this, because three days a year for young drivers is nothing,” Sainz snr insisted. (GMM)
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