A week after 'confirming' Carlos Sainz at Toro Rosso for 2018, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has opened the door slightly ajar to the possibility of the Spaniard leaving at the end of this season.

The highly-rated 22-year-old has a focal part of the driver market recently after suggesting in Austria that a fourth year with the junior Red Bull team was "unlikely" as he either wanted a promotion or the chance to move elsewhere.

Those comments caused a stir among the hierarchy with the "loyalty" of Sainz called into question but now it seems he could see pastures new next year but only for the right price.

"Carlos Sainz has a contract with Red Bull Racing, there's two years left on that contract," Horner declared according to Reuters.

"If somebody was prepared to make an offer, of course, we'd consider it but it would have to have a significant value attached to it because we've invested in Carlos significantly... you're not just going to give an asset away."

Another story that has been dispelled was speculation on Saturday that Sainz had already severed ties with Red Bull and that he would be leaving Toro Rosso after the British Grand Prix to join Renault until the end of the season.

All parties rubbished the German media report which was then quoted elsewhere, with Horner adding: "I don't know where these rumours come from but I cannot believe that these rumours are out there for the Hungarian race."

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul has since revealed he personally told Jolyon Palmer, the driver it was suggested Sainz was going to replace, that his seat was secure ahead of the British Grand Prix.

"When I found out the proportion it had taken on the media side I made it clear to everyone that there was absolutely nothing true in that, and I told that to Jo directly," he told Motorsport.com

"I wanted to clear that off his mind before the start."