Carlos Sainz is looking for a new team for 2025 after Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. Sainz’s deal is up at the end of the year, and it won’t be renewed.
It was a brutal call from Ferrari given his generally strong performances in scarlet red. He beat Charles Leclerc during their first year together in 2021, and finished just six points behind him last season.
Sainz has also been responsible for three of Ferrari’s last four victories, including their triumph at the Australian Grand Prix in March. With three podiums in six starts this year, he may have reached the best level of his career.
But he still finds himself without a job for next year as it stands. He’s already received at least one offer, but he clearly isn’t sure about joining Audi.
The German manufacturer will enter F1 for the 2026 season as they acquire Sauber. In the short term, Sainz would be dropping down to a team who currently sit bottom of the constructors’ championship.
A return to the Red Bull family also remains an option for the Spaniard, who started his career at Toro Rosso. Team principal Christian Horner is keen, but executive director Helmut Marko less so.
Carlos Sainz could still re-open talks with Mercedes after deadlock
According to Planet F1, Sainz wanted to sign with Mercedes ‘as quickly as possible’. The Silver Arrows boast perhaps the most attractive confirmed vacancy on the grid after Hamilton’s exit.
However, Toto Wolff has instead preferred to keep a ‘watching brief’ in the driver market to see if Max Verstappen is willing to join. This has led to an ‘impasse’ in negotiations.
Sky Sports F1’s Craig Slater has said Sainz won’t be joining Mercedes, but the latest report stops short of ruling that out. After all, the problem here isn’t ‘results or contract demands’.
As such, the Silver Arrows could still ‘snap up’ the 29-year-old ‘further down the line’. But Sainz knows that he’d be in a ‘considerably weaker’ position if his other options are off the table by then.
Mercedes had discussions with Alex Albon over 2025 seat
Mercedes may not have given up hope of signing Verstappen, but he seems a more realistic target for 2026. While they could keep things in-house by hiring academy driver Kimi Antonelli, Nico Rosberg has warned them that it may be too early.
Indeed, it might make more sense for Mercedes to place him at Williams and allow him to build up his experience. If he thrives at Grove, they can then promote him just as they did George Russell.
This approach would lend itself to an experienced stop-gap signing alongside Russell for 2025. To that end, Mercedes have already held extensive talks with Fernando Alonso, only for the Spaniard to re-sign with Aston Martin.
Wolff also held initial discussions with Alex Albon before he extended his Williams deal. And Valtteri Bottas has said a return to Brackley is a possibility.
Former reserve driverEsteban Ocon has his eye on the potential vacancy. Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and in-form RB driver Yuki Tsunoda could be wildcard options if Wolff wants a driver who has already proven himself.
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