Carlos Sainz could sign for one British-based team after leaving Ferrari, F1 insider Tim Hauraney says.
Australian Grand Prix winner Sainz is currently without a drive for the 2025 season after Ferrari decided to axe him in favour of Lewis Hamilton.
But speaking on ESPN’s Unlapped podcast, Hauraney named one potential destination for the Spaniard next year.
Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to take victory last season when he held off Lando Norris to stand on the top step at the Singapore Grand Prix.
He’s responsible for Ferrari’s last three race wins overall, but Charles Leclerc has scored more points during their time as teammates (561 vs 492).
Leclerc enjoys a comfortable advantage in qualifying, leading their overall Saturday head-to-head 31-15 since the start of 2022.
Ferrari had the opportunity to sign the most successful driver in F1 history in Hamilton because the second year of his Mercedes contract was optional.
Sainz’s deal only ran until the end of the 2024 season, and the Scuderia have opted not to renew it.
Tim Hauraney backs Carlos Sainz to join Mercedes
Hauraney says there’s a strong possibility that Sainz will end up replacing Hamilton at Mercedes next season.
But that’s on the basis that the Brackley outfit offer him a long-term contract, because he’s ‘done’ with shorter-term arrangements.
Hauraney urged him to stay at the sharp end of the field, if possible, rather than dropping down to Sauber before Audi’s 2026 takeover.
He doubts that the 29-year-old would want to return the Red Bull family, despite team principal Christian Horner praising his ‘great’ performance in Melbourne.
He said: “I know for Carlos, he wants one stability. He wants something that’s a little bit more longer-term. I think he’s done with these two-year, one-year deals.
“There was a lot coming into the start of the season where it was like ‘okay yeah, he’s going to Sauber, he’s going to help bring Audi in because his dad’s connections with Saudi are really strong.
“Is that the team you really want to go backwards to? For him, you have to stay in the teams that are in that top three, top four fighting for podiums, fighting for race wins.
“I could see him going to Mercedes no problem. There’s been a lot of talk about Red Bull after Christian Horner’s comments following the Australian Grand Prix.
“But I don’t know if he would want go back to that because that’s where he obviously started his Formula 1 career with Toro Rosso.”
Aston Martin could also be an option for Sainz
If Mercedes don’t satisfy Sainz’s requirements, then where could he go?
Both drivers at former team McLaren are under contract, but there could be a vacancy at Aston Martin.
While Aston haven’t managed to repeat last year’s start, which saw Fernando Alonso bag three podiums in as many races, they have got plenty of points on the board.
Heading to the Japanese Grand Prix, they sit fourth in the standings on 25 points, just one behind Mercedes.
Compatriot Alonso is in the final year of his deal and he’s apparently angling for a move to Red Bull.
Meanwhile, Lance Stroll, who’s also yet to sign an extension beyond 2024, is under ‘pressure’ despite his father Lawrence owning the team.
Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has talked up the possibility of an all-Spanish line-up at Aston featuring Alonso and Sainz.
David Croft has told Stroll senior to ‘aggressively’ pursue the three-time race-winner for next year.
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