Sainz is set to move on from Ferrari at the end of this season due to the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, and ensured in Melbourne that he is one of the most in-demand drivers for 2025. After the 29-year-old took victory at Albert Park, following Verstappen’s early withdrawal due to a brake issue, Horner said Sainz had been Red Bull’s “nemesis” recently. Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix last year with a victory in Singapore in September. “You’ve had a very fast unemployed driver win today,” Horner said. Horner said Pérez has had a “great start to the season” and Yuki Tsunoda, the lead driver at affiliate team RB, was a “quick” driver. “I don’t feel underrated by people that know about the sport,” Sainz said. On Sunday he said he was “absolutely” comfortable in his role at Red Bull.

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