Christian Horner says Carlos Sainz remains a part of Red Bull's plans for the future despite joining Renault on loan.

Sainz will drive for Renault next season as part of the deal that saw Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso split with Renault for 2018 in order to take on Honda as engine suppliers.

With current Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen due to fall out of contract at the end of next season, Horner says the team could not afford to allow Sainz to leave outright.

"We’ve had a lot of requests for a lot of our drivers and it seems to change on a daily or weekly basis," Horner told Sky Sports.

"When the music stops it will become clear but we need to be patient.

"They are not available, they can be loaned out or rented but they can’t be given away. That is something that won’t be happening.

"If anything happens with Sainz, he will be very firmly part of the Red Bull family."