Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz appears keen to keep his options open for next season when he knows he’ll be leaving Maranello.
The three-time race winner has been one of the quickest drivers on the grid and has understandably attracted plenty of attention up and down the paddock as each team attempts to confirm their driver line-ups for 2025.
Journalist Craig Slater was speaking on Sky Sports F1’s website and provided an update on the Spaniard’s future.
Carlos Sainz revealed at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix that progress on his next move in Formula 1 is ‘not moving too quick’ but some decisions may have already been made.
Craig Slater believes that after a conversation with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, Sainz won’t be joining in 2025.
The German manufacturer have an equally big decision to make ahead of next season after Lewis Hamilton decided to switch allegiances to Ferrari next season.
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Carlos Sainz won’t be joining Mercedes in 2025 after Toto Wolff ‘conversation’
The Spaniard knew weeks before the first practice session in Bahrain commenced that he was driving for his Formula 1 future.
Lewis Hamilton shocked the F1 world with his announcement at the beginning of February and team principal Frederic Vasseur decided that academy graduate and multiple race winner Charles Leclerc was his preferred teammate for the seven-time world champion.
Sainz immediately saw this as a challenge and was the sole Ferrari on the podium in Sakhir, although Leclerc suffered from brake issues during the race.
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It was the 29-year-old’s performance in Australia that caught the attention of the rest of the grid, taking full advantage of a rare Max Verstappen retirement to deny Red Bull a perfect season.
Mercedes would have certainly taken note knowing they had a seat to fill in 2025 but their requirements for George Russell’s next teammate are different to what Sainz wants at this stage of his career.
Until both parties have confirmed their plans for next season rumours will continue to swirl that they could end up working together.
Former driver Giancarlo Fisichella still believes joining the eight-time champions is the best course of action for Sainz.
However, at this stage, he looks set to pursue other opportunities on the grid.
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Carlos Sainz not short of options for next season
Talking about the 29-year-old’s future, Slater said: “What about Sauber which will become Audi? Well, I’m going to put Carlos Sainz alongside Nico Hulkenberg there.
“Why isn’t Carlos Sainz going to Mercedes you may ask? Well, that conversation has already been had as I understand it and the timescale Mercedes are working towards in terms of making their decision does not fit in with what Carlos Sainz wants himself.
“He wants his contract situation decided in the next few weeks, rather than months.”
As Slater alludes to, Audi are desperate to partner Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz together.
He’s already missed one deadline but is understood to still have a contract on the table for next season.
Red Bull is also an option for Sainz with Sergio Perez’s difficult weekend at Imola offering him a glimmer of hope.
If all of those options are suddenly unavailable then Williams have previously shown an interest in Sainz.
Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?
With a move for Sainz in 2025 off the table for Mercedes, it appears as though they have narrowed their shortlist down to two drivers.
Toto Wolff would love to bring triple world champion Max Verstappen into the team to replace Hamilton.
He’s willing to offer the Dutchman terms even Hamilton didn’t receive but he looks set to stay at Red Bull for at least another season.
If they can’t lure Verstappen away from the current Constructors’ champions, all eyes are on junior star Kimi Antonelli.
The teenager is doing everything he can behind the scenes to prepare for an imminent promotion from Formula 2.
Mercedes have a huge amount of faith in the Italian but only time will tell if he’s the incredible prodigy many are suggesting he could be.
This means Mercedes only need a stop-gap if Antonelli isn’t being signed for next year which doesn’t align with Sainz’s long-term F1 goals.
The post ‘As I understand’: Carlos Sainz won’t be joining 8-time champions in 2025 after ‘conversation’ – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.