Red Bull's Max Vertstappen believes his former Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz will be the chosen one to fill Sebastian Vettel's seat at Ferrari.
The Scuderia and Vettel issued a joint statement on Tuesday announcing a parting of their ways at the end of the season, with pundits now focusing on the identity of the driver that will be racing alongside Charles Leclerc next season, with Sainz and Renault's Daniel Ricciardo seen as the most likely candidates.
"The speculation was going on a bit, is he going to continue with Ferrari or not? Well today it’s out. He’s not," Verstappen said in an Instagram Q&A for team sponsor Puma.
"I guess also very soon we’ll find out who the replacement is going to be. It’s definitely not me, I can tell you. I’m at Red Bull."
Indeed, Verstappen's current deal with Red Bull extends all the way to the end of 2023. Queried on whether Ferrari next driver will have a Spanish of Italian sounding name, Verstappen dismissed the latter.
"I think it’s not going to be the Italian-sounding name... it’s just a guess, we’ll have to wait and see."
As speculation about who will be racing in red next year ramps up, Carlos Sainz Sr. chimed in on his son's prospects although the rally legend stopped short of confirming Sainz's move to Maranello.
“I can tell you little at this point because I don’t want to deceive anyone," said Sainz Sr. on a Movistar podcast.
"But it is clear that things are accelerating and that the teams are not going to wait for the season to start because it is not even known if there will be a season.
"It is true that he is happy where he is and it is true that lately things are moving a lot, and I want to think that sooner or later there will be a solution, because we cannot stay two more months based on these rumors and these stories.
"But you must allow me not to tell you ant-y more because these are delicate moments."
Sainz Sr. remained mum, but the Spaniard did commend his son's ambitions.
"As life goes on, either you stagnate or you take steps, and from what I see as a father he has the ambition to continue doing better, to move forward.
"That has to be the philosophy of any athlete who competes in something like he did last year, and all I can do is encourage him to do it."
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