Although the number of available seats for the 2025 Formula 1 season is beginning to decrease, the driver’s market appears to be becoming more complicated.
At the heart of that speculation is Carlos Sainz, who seems to have doors closed on him as others open while he looks for a new race seat next year.
Journalist Joe Saward was reflecting on the Monaco Grand Prix and sharing more details about the Formula 1 driver’s market on his blog.
He’s already suggested that Audi have identified RB driver Yuki Tsunoda as their top candidate for next year.
That may mean that Audi have moved on from their hope of signing Carlos Sainz alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
With RB ruled out as an option for Sainz and Red Bull having told the Spaniard they won’t be signing him, he’s running out of places to go.
However, there’s now a suggestion that Sainz could end up at Williams alongside Alex Albon in 2025 and a deal could be announced as early as the Spanish Grand Prix.
At the beginning of the campaign, it would have seemed farfetched for the three-time race winner to join James Vowles’s team.
However, it looks like a real possibility with Sainz’s camp excited about the potential opportunity.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Carlos Sainz could be announced as Williams driver before the Spanish Grand Prix
Talking about the 29-year-old’s future, Saward said: “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.
“There is Audi, but most folks in F1 see this programme being unlikely to be competitive for years because of the state of the Sauber team and the fact that corporate politics is lurking not far beneath the surface at Audi – and that is never good for a manufacturer in F1.
“This means that Sainz’s best sensible choice would have to be Williams because the team will pay him the same as Audi and is on the way up, albeit not as rapidly as they would like.
“The team can offer him a two-year deal until the end of 2026 when everyone will see how good the next generation engines are, and perhaps an option of more years if Carlos wants to go on once he knows. It is hard to see the logic of not accepting such an offer.
“If this is the conclusion that the Sainz camp reaches, it could be agreed and announced as soon as the Spanish Grand Prix next month, which would be perfect timing.”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship
Carlos Sainz to Williams leaves Logan Sargeant in a difficult position
Carlos Sainz is potentially the best driver available to Williams for next season and it’s no wonder they want to get a deal signed before the Spanish Grand Prix before another team can make a last-minute move.
That would make Williams the third team – or fourth depending on the status of Lance Stroll’s rolling contract – to confirm their full line-up for 2025.
This means that Logan Sargeant will be the latest driver to be left without a seat for next year.
Unlike Sainz when he discovered he had been replaced by Lewis Hamilton, the American hasn’t built up a portfolio of high-quality performances to convince another team to offer him a new deal.
Sargeant’s management have entered talks with Haas over a potential deal next year, but he’s unlikely to be near the top of their shortlist.
He’s now got to focus on making sure he at least retains his seat until the end of the season.
Williams are reportedly considering bringing in Mick Schumacher to replace Sargeant midway through the campaign.
The post ‘Perfect timing’: Carlos Sainz’s 2025 F1 team could be announced before the Spanish GP – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.