Who will Carlos Sainz sign with for the year 2025?
Williams is being touted as the “best sensible choice” for Carlos Sainz with the Spaniard falling to second choice with Mercedes and Red Bull.
After being replaced by Lewis Hamilton for the F1 2025 championship, Sainz has been using the first eight races of this season as an opportunity to showcase his skills and secure his future in Formula One.
‘Neither Mercedes nor Red Bull is going to sign Carlos Sainz’
Sainz’s outstanding performances, with three consecutive podium finishes in his first three races, including a remarkable victory in the Australian Grand Prix just two weeks after undergoing an appendectomy, caught the attention of Toto Wolff and Helmut Marko, who publicly acknowledged his achievements.
Recently, the compliments have become scarce.
That’s because Mercedes reportedly are considering a promotion for junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli while Red Bull feel Sergio Perez is doing enough, and doing it without rocking the boat.
“The driver market was much discussed in the Monaco paddock as it becomes clear that neither Mercedes nor Red Bull is going to sign Carlos Sainz,” respected F1 journalist Joe Saward wrote in his post-Monaco block.
Kimi Antonelli has captured Mercedes’ attention, while Red Bull intends to retain Sergio Perez due to his ability to work harmoniously with Max Verstappen without causing any disruptions.
It is quite unlikely, but if he were to crash and Sainz assists Ferrari in closing the gap in the Constructors’ Championship, there is a slim chance it could potentially aid Carlos in securing a seat at Red Bull.
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Which teams remain options for Carlos Sainz?
Although Audi appeared to be the leading contender to sign the 29-year-old at first, recent reports have linked him to Williams.
Despite the Grove team’s ongoing struggle to score points in a highly competitive field, Saward believes that Williams’ Mercedes engine gives them an advantage over Audi in his rankings.
He went on to say that while Audi exists in F1, many people believe that the Sauber team’s current condition and the presence of corporate politics at Audi will hinder their competitiveness for several years. This is generally not favorable for a manufacturer in the F1 industry.
This implies that Sainz’s most logical decision would be to join Williams, as the team offers a comparable salary to Audi and is gradually progressing, albeit not as quickly as desired.
It is anticipated that Williams will be equipped with a Mercedes engine in 2026, which increases their chances of being competitive. Consequently, opting for the Williams package appears to be a more favorable choice in the immediate future compared to Audi.
The team has the option to extend a two-year contract to Carlos, which would last until the end of 2026. This duration allows him to witness the performance of the next generation engines. Additionally, if Carlos desires to continue, there is a possibility of further years. Refusing such an offer seems illogical.
“If the Sainz camp comes to this conclusion, it is possible that it will be agreed upon and announced at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix next month, which would be an ideal timing.”
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