Carlos Sainz appeared relaxed when faced with a series of questions centered on Lewis Hamilton taking the seat at Ferrari for 2025 and his next move during the Ferrari launch last week. This is because the Spaniard, a two-time F1 race winner, will know that he has plenty of options elsewhere on the grid and that he is one of the most sought-after racers at the moment given his experience and his current form. .
It would be easy to become demoralized when a team you love competing for decides they don't want to continue with you, especially when you feel like you've done an impressive job in the previous three seasons with the team.
However, being usurped by the best driver of the generation makes it a little easier to accept (Ferrari would almost certainly have re-signed him if Hamilton, their long-time target, hadn't been available), as does that the knowledge that there are a large number of teams that are It is understood that he had already been fighting for his signature.
It would be fair to say that of the eight teams that have free seats in 2025 (Red Bull, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Alpine, Williams, RB, Sauber and Haas) all eight are possible landing spots. There has never been a better time to lose your seat and need a ride somewhere on the grid.
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Taking this into account, Sainz is in no rush to decide. Whatever happens, the Spaniard will know that he will end up with a good seat.
The thing to consider is what type of project do you want? Is it one that is likely to give you a car to fight for podiums and victories almost immediately, like Red Bull, Mercedes or Aston Martin? Or is it one that will require some patience but offers you the opportunity to lead the team and guide them through the pecking order, such as Alpine, Williams, RB, Sauber and Haas?
“I know I've been performing well lately,” he said when we spoke last week. “I know there will be very good opportunities to remain competitive in the future on other teams.
“Now is the time to take a hard look, listen to everyone a little, listen to everyone a little, and make sure I give myself some time to figure out exactly what I want to do in the future and where I'm going to spend my next life. , who knows, three or four years of my career.
“I'm turning 30 this year, which means I'm probably at my peak, so I want to make sure I have some time to analyze and listen to everyone a little bit to see where I can go.”
Obviously, there are some projects that will be higher on his list than others, but for now, everything is believed to be on the table.
One thing is for sure: you will want stability in any contract you sign. His last three contracts have been multi-year, which gave him continuity and eliminated any uncertainty so he could concentrate on work. The prospect of a one-year deal or one plus one, like Hamilton had with Mercedes, will be an unattractive offer.
“Wherever I go, I will look for stability and an interesting project to become a champion in the future,” he added. “I believe in stability. I'm a big believer in consistency, in getting to know the people you work with, in getting involved in the team you're on for more than a year or two, so it's no secret, that's my preference and that's why I need “Give me time to decide well.”
A Sainz-Mercedes partnership?
While choice can be a good thing, it can also cause a headache, especially with new regulations set for 2026, which will include new rules for power units that dictate the use of 100% sustainable fuels and a heavy reliance on energy of the battery, which could shake up the sport's competitive pecking order.
Determining which team will react best to them will be one of the challenges that Sainz and his management team will face.
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Who will have the best Power Unit? Does the team have a solid fuel supplier? How strong is your financial influence? How much is the operation investing? Are they strengthening the infrastructure? Do they have an updated simulator and wind tunnel? What is your long-term plan?
A Sainz-Mercedes partnership would make a lot of sense. They will get a race-winning driver, who has ruthless consistency, is super strong with feedback and has had a great relationship with all of his teammates. Sainz would get a car that will keep him at the top and an operation that has world-class facilities and the financial clout to fight on the front lines.
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However, Mercedes will need to work out their plan for their protégé Kimi Antonelli. If he's strong this year, would they bring him to Williams next year and then to Mercedes the year after that?
If so, they would only have a position for one year, and that would not be attractive for Sainz. Do you plan to bring Antonelli in for 2027 or 2028, giving him more time in F2 and/or time at another team like Williams before promoting him to Mercedes? That would mean they need a teammate for George Russell for two or three years, a much more attractive project for Sainz and others.
You would think Sainz would back himself to beat Russell and make boss Toto Wolff consider keeping the Spaniard, rather than the Briton, if one were to make way for Antonelli.
Options throughout the grid
Aston Martin is also a very strong option. At 42 years old, Fernando Alonso won't last forever, and if billionaire Lawrence Stroll intends to continue the team's positive momentum for the foreseeable future, he will want to sign a strong, consistent and experienced driver who can push the team forward. forward for the future. long-term. Sainz would fit that profile.
However, Williams is believed to be a big admirer of Sainz. They offer Spaniards the opportunity to get on a train that is gaining impressive momentum and that has very good resources for the future. It's a risk, of course, but one that could pay off.
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Then there's Sauber, which will become Audi's official team in 2026. Sainz knows his boss Andreas Seidl very well, having spent two years together at McLaren, and his father, Carlos Sainz Sr., has strong ties to the incoming Audi. , having spent the last three years competing for the German manufacturer in the Dakar Rally and will understand just how strong their motorsport organization is.
Red Bull and RB are options, as Sainz parts ways with the Red Bull family on good terms, having gone through their junior program, while Alpine could work too, if he fancy returning to a team he knows he raced for them with Renault. . flag.
So Sainz and his team have a lot to analyze over the coming weeks and months.