Red Bull have been advised to attempt a bold swoop for to partner next season.

Team principal is weighing up what his driver line-up will look like next year. was handed a contract extension for the 2025 campaign earlier this year but his form has dropped off a cliff since.

have not yet decided whether or not to move on and bring in someone new. However, as the Mexican's results look likely to cost them the constructors' title this year, they are making preparations for life without Perez in the future.

could be in the frame for a promotion from sister team RB, or they could sign someone to come straight into the Red Bull Racing squad. Either way, they are looking at external candidates and have been in negotiations with over Franco Colapinto.

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The Argentine has performed well since he was brought in mid-season to replace the struggling . However, as Williams had already signed Sainz to partner next season, it was made clear from the very beginning that Colapinto's stint would only be a temporary one.

Williams boss has been trying to find the 21-year-old a seat elsewhere and Red Bull are clearly keen. However, former F1 racer believes Horner's team should instead by trying to agree a deal to take Sainz, leaving space for Colapinto with his current outfit.

"If I were Christian Horner and the director of Red Bull, I would go to Williams and say, 'Look, you are happy with Colapinto, keep him and give me Sainz," Montoya, who raced 68 times and won on four occasions while racing in F1 for Williams, told .

"Why am I going to take the risk of replacing Checo, who is experienced in Formula 1 and has won races, to put a rookie against Max? A rookie against Albon is tough, but you can do it. And look at Albon, whenever he has been under pressure and has had a fast team-mate he has crashed and continues to do so.

"Max does not make mistakes and he does not fail, so it is complicated. Personally, if I were Christian, I would say to him, 'Do you like Colapinto so much and do you want to make him grow?' Knowing Carlos, I think he has told Williams that he signed for them, but if he does not win or do podiums, if someone offers me something, every year I can leave.

"Then [Red Bull] could say to [Williams], 'You can lose Carlos now or in a year, now you get money and next year you get no money'. If it was like that, that is the move I would make for Red Bull. I would not go for Colapinto, I would go for Carlos."