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Lingering Sainz holds F1 driver market hostage: Will he soon be his own victim?
- Ludo van Denderen
When Lewis Hamilton announced on 1 February that he was switching to Ferrari for the 2025 season, it did not take long for Audi to get on the phone to Carlos Sainz's manager. A palatial contract for the Spanish driver from what is now Ferrari was waiting for him at the German manufacturer - that will make their entrance into Formula 1 in '26. But instead of accepting the offer, Sainz decided to wait. To wait a very long time. Indeed, he is still waiting.
Besides Audi (currently Stake F1), Williams and, more recently, Alpine also 'applied' for Sainz in recent months. But even those teams are keeping the three-time Grand Prix winner in limbo for the time being, just as Sainz is currently holding the entire driver market hostage. Because until Sainz has decided where his future lies, a number of teams are holding out hope for his signature and not opting for an alternative.
How long will teams be patient with Sainz?
Meanwhile, the question begins to arise how long will these teams' patience last? Reportedly, Audi are by now done with the lingering Sainz and internally there is the thought: 'It's like it or not'. Williams team principal James Vowles hinted at Silverstone that he is now at plan Y or Z, from which it could be gathered that even here the Briton is no longer counting on the signature of the Spaniard. During last race weekend, Valtteri Bottas had another meeting with Williams' team management and he is currently the main candidate to replace Logan Sargeant after this season.
Since Flavio Briatore joined Alpine as an advisor, there has also been interest in Sainz from the French team. Perhaps the Spaniard sees more in a return to the old nest - after all, he previously competed for Renault - than in an adventure with Audi or Williams. But unlike with those teams, Sainz is not the clear-cut number one candidate. Jack Doohan and Mick Schumacher (both already linked to Alpine) are also firmly in the picture.
Is Sainz hoping for a chance at a top team?
When asked, Carlos Sainz has been keeping quiet about his future for weeks. Perhaps he is quietly hoping for a chance at Mercedes - in case Andrea Kimi Antonelli is not found good enough for Formula 1 after all - or at Red Bull Racing. There he would like to become Sergio Perez's replacement. But the Austrians are not at all keen on a renewed internal battle between Max Verstappen and Sainz, as was the case in the days when both drove for Toro Rosso.
Carlos Sainz must be careful not to run out of serious options soon. Teams could decide to go for their second choice instead to fill their seats - assuming at some point other dominos will begin to fall. In that case, things could move quickly and the teams with currently open spots would quickly fill up. Then Sainz would just get what's left available.