Red Bull door "a bit closed" for Sainz

Carlos Sainz has admitted that his chances of joining Red Bull have slimmed since former team mate Max Verstappen was promoted earlier this season.

The Spaniard, who currently drives for Red Bull junior team Scuderia Toro Rosso, acknowledged that Red Bull wanted to keep the current lineup, but insisted that he had not given up on a move to the championship winning team

"I see they want to keep Ricciardo and Verstappen," Sainz, told Spanish broadcaster Movistar in Baku. "The door at Red Bull seems a bit closed, but it does not change my plans."

"I will keep trying because in formula one you never know what can happen."

However, the 21-year-old dismissed talk of a move to Ferrari, insisting that Red Bull were happy to keep him in their F1 fold next season

"I know that Red Bull are happy with me so there is no reason why I cannot continue in Toro Rosso next year," he said. "We will have to wait a little longer until the summer. There are important races coming up and I want to do well. Then we'll see."

"But there is no doubt that I want to go to a big team soon," Sainz conceded.

An opening at Ferrari may be about to open up according to Italy's Autosprint, with them reporting that Renault have opened talks with Kimi Raikkonen over a two-year deal for the 2007 world champion.

Baku Toro Rosso's "worst circuit"

Looking at this weekend's first race in Baku, Sainz has admitted that Toro Rosso, using year-old Ferrari engines, will struggle.

"This is the worst circuit for Toro Rosso," he said. "There is no 120 or 130kph corner, which is the best for us, and any team without a Mercedes is going to lose time on that straight."

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