Currently, Carlos Sainz is not being considered for a Mercedes seat, at least temporarily…
Carlos Sainz has been ruled out of contention for the second Mercedes seat, at least for the time being.
After Ferrari’s decision to secure Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming season, Sainz finds himself as a free agent in the F1 driver market for 2025. This leaves the Spaniard without a team and in search of a new seat to continue his racing career.
Carlos Sainz out of the running for Mercedes F1 seat
Despite Sainz’s current struggle to secure a seat for the upcoming year, his chances of obtaining a competitive position are higher than usual due to numerous driver contracts being up for renewal and renegotiation.
The unconfirmed cockpit at Red Bull, currently held by Sergio Perez, and Hamilton’s empty seat as the seven-time F1 World Champion departs from Mercedes, have both been associated with the Spaniard.
Despite suggestions that Sainz had missed the German manufacturer’s deadline to sign a contract, Audi still remains another viable option, leaving the door open for Sainz at the present time.
PlanetF1.com has learned that a potential opportunity for Sainz to join Mercedes has been ruled out for now, at least in his current situation, as the Monaco Grand Prix weekend approaches.
Sainz’s desire to secure a deal with Mercedes promptly has been acknowledged. However, negotiations have hit a deadlock as Mercedes has chosen to observe whether Max Verstappen decides to make a surprising departure from Red Bull.
Nevertheless, if the focus of discussions shifts towards timelines instead of results or contract demands, it is still possible for Sainz to be considered as a backup option if other opportunities do not materialize. However, this would put Sainz at a disadvantage during negotiations.
Mercedes’ hesitance to make a decision in the near future means that the responsibility falls on their young prodigy, Kimi Antonelli. The Formula 2 driver is expected to meet all the requirements for an F1 super licence by August this year. If the team is unable to convince Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull, which seems increasingly unlikely considering his recent remarks, Antonelli could be the alternative choice.
PlanetF1.com has approached Carlos Sainz’s management team for comment.
Breaking news. More to follow…
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