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Carlos Sainz was approached by Williams last year for a 2017 drive but declined, according to Pat Symonds of Sky F1. Sainz attracted interest in 2016 after some consistently strong results, with Renault also making a move for the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 champion.
Sainz is currently in his third year in Formula 1, driving for Red Bull's junior team. So far in 2017, he has scored in the points five times out of six and sits eighth in the championship. A spot opened up at Red Bull in 2016 when Daniil Kvyat was demoted, however it was Sainz's former teammate Max Verstappen who got the call-up.
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Toro Rosso currently sits above Williams in the constructor standings, and it is possible that Williams could return later this year for a chance to sign him. It is also rumoured that Ferrari is lining a deal up for him to replace Kimi Raikkonen, and also would receive a Red Bull promotion if Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen were to move away. Formula 2 driver Oliver Rowland praised the Spaniard.
"Every year he's been there [Toro Rosso] he's been extremely good and he's getting better and better and more consistent," said Rowland. "These cars probably suit him a bit more than before as well with the high downforce. When I raced against him in World Series the cars were quite similar and he's really exceptional in situations like that.
"It's nice to see him maturing and growing. It would be nice to see him in a Ferrari or, who knows, even a Red Bull depending on where people go at the end of the year."
Fergal Walsh
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
C. Sainz jr
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calle.itw
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Good, he deserve a good seat. As it stands today, he risks getting ignored and then replaced by someone else at Red Bull, only to never get a chance in the primary team.