Red Bull star OUT of race after huge crash

Carlos Sainz Sr, Dakar Rally 2025, Red Bull, W2RC — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Off The Track

Red Bull star OUT of race after huge crash

A champion has received a massive blow at the start of 2025

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Wednesday 8 January 2025 16:00

Red Bull champion Carlos Sainz Sr has been ruled out of a 2025 race in a huge shock at the Dakar Rally.

The 63-year-old signed with Ford for their 2025 programme, with the manufacturer and Sainz Sr also being linked with Red Bull.

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Sainz Sr is most famous for his two titles in the World Rally Championship, which he claimed in 1990 and 1992.

Whilst the champion may be retired from the WRC, Sainz Sr has competed in the Dakar Rally since 2006, which he won for the fourth time with Audi last year.

Carlos Sainz Sr is a 2x World Rally champion

Sainz Sr is also the father of F1 driver Carlos Sainz

Sainz Sr ruled out of 2025 Dakar Rally

Whilst he managed to return and finish the stage, the FIA have since inspected the car and determined that Sainz Sr cannot compete further due to damage to the car’s roll cage structure.

The elimination marks a huge blow to Ford with Sainz’s team-mate Nani Roma already out of contention, in the manufacturers first full-fledged year in the event.

Ford issued a statement which confirmed why they have been ruled out of the remainder of the Dakar Rally, and claimed no repairs could be made to that part of the car.

“Due to the damage sustained to the safety cage of vehicle #225 [Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz] during the accident in the first part of the 48-hour stage of the Dakar Rally 2025 and in accordance with FIA regulations, it has been decided to withdraw the vehicle,” it read.

Red Bull FIA Audi Ford Dakar Rally Carlos Sainz Sr