Carlos Sainz: Where Will He Land For The 2025 Season?
In February, the Formula 1 driver market faced a major upheaval when Ferrari announced they wouldn't renew Carlos Sainz's contract for 2025, opting instead for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. This unexpected move sent shockwaves through the paddock, forcing teams and drivers to rethink their driver lineup for the upcoming season.
One driver directly affected by this shakeup is Kevin Magnussen, whose contract is also up for renewal. He summed up the sentiment among drivers:
“Carlos is the cork in the bottle. I think a lot of guys are waiting for him to make a move, and then, eventually, all the other pieces of the puzzle will fall. That’s the truth of that.”
In response, the three-time Grand Prix winner commented:
“The latest news is that a decision will be taken very soon. I don’t want to wait any longer. I think it’s getting to a point where it’s obviously taking space out of my head for quite a few weeks now and months. It’s time to make a decision and the decision will be taken soon. Hopefully, soon, we will have things to talk about.”
Despite this, Sainz remains uncertain about his future.
“No, that’s the thing. I’m still not sure one way or another. It’s still something I’m discussing with my team and brainstorming. I need a couple of days back at home. Before the Spanish Grand Prix, I’d been at home, but you don’t have the head in the future; you have the head in the Spanish Grand Prix. It’s been a very hectic couple of weeks after Canada for me, so I haven’t had time to sit down and take a decision, and this is what I will target in the next few weeks.”
Sainz’s initial hopes of joining either Red Bull or Mercedes were dashed when Red Bull extended Sergio Perez’s contract through 2025, and Mercedes expressed interest in young F2 talent Kimi Antonelli. This leaves Sainz with three main options: Williams, Audi, and Alpine.
Williams
Williams, known for its rich Formula 1 history, has faced recent challenges but has shown promise, with James Vowles joining as team principal in January 2023. The team finished in seventh place for the constructors championship in 2023, but they are struggling again with just two points in the bag for the 2024 season. They currently stand ninth in the constructors championship.
Vowles expressed keen interest in Sainz, stating:
“He’s a race-winning driver that last year against all odds beat Max [Verstappen] in Singapore with a brilliant drive. He’s intelligent, logical, incredibly quick. What he did this year in Shanghai… It’s going to sound like a negative, it’s not… In qualifying, he crashed, and we’ve all been there to a certain extent, [but] it’s an impressive athlete that can reset themselves, go back out and then beat your teammate in that condition. I think that shows you just how strong he is as a driver, and I think any team on the grid would be fortunate to have someone like Carlos alongside them.”
When asked if Sainz is at the top of Williams’ list, Vowles confirmed,
“That bit I can say. The number one target is Carlos.”
Audi
Sainz also has connections to Audi, especially following his father’s recent Dakar Rally win for the brand. Kick Sauber Team’s (which will be rebranded to Audi in 2026) representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi highlighted the team’s focus on a long-term commitment:
“I think that in terms of drivers line-up, we have been quite clear. Audi will enter Formula 1 in 2026; we will be the factory team of Audi, but this is the start of a long journey to Formula 1, so it is the first step of a long and important project for the Audi Volkswagen Group. And, of course, we are speaking with a lot of drivers, including Carlos Sainz. That is, of course, the most important for the people, especially here in Spain. But we want drivers with a long commitment with us; we want drivers that will start with us on this long journey.”
Bravi also elaborated on the qualities they seek in a driver:
“This is one of the elements that we are discussing with every driver, and of course, now the decision is approaching because we want all to know exactly who will be together with us next year, in the next few seasons, because we also need to start working on next year’s car and drivers is an important element. But I think the starting point for us is this — we want a driver that will be committed with us long-term.”
He added,
“I think drivers like Carlos, like Nico Hulkenberg that we have signed can bring many, many things — experience, raw speed, motivation.”
If Sainz chooses to join Audi, he will work alongside German driver Nico Hulkenberg.
Alpine
Alpine has offered a late bid to sign Sainz for the upcoming season. With Esteban Ocon’s departure from the team confirmed after the Monaco Grand Prix, the team would be looking for a driver to fill their seat. Despite grappling with the challenges of their A524 car, Alpine seemed to have taken a step forward, with the team scoring points in the last three consecutive races, underscoring Alpine’s upward trajectory amidst their ongoing development efforts.
The team has also made internal changes, notably appointing Flavio Briatore as executive advisor. Despite his controversial past, Briatore's return marks a strategic move to elevate Alpine’s stature. He previously steered the Enstone-based outfit to World Championship success with Benetton and Michael Schumacher in the 90s and Fernando Alonso during their Renault era. Sainz raced for Renault in 2017 and 2018. A potential reunion with Alpine (formerly Renault) offers him a familiar environment to contribute to the team’s progression up the grid.
Alpine is yet to confirm its driver lineup for 2025.
Conclusion
Carlos Sainz appears set to secure a seat for the 2025 season with many teams interested in signing him, but the question remains: Which team will he choose? As the Spaniard weighs his options for next season, he finds himself at a crucial juncture.
Williams offers the opportunity to revive its historic success, Audi presents an exciting new venture in the sport, and Alpine provides a familiar environment with recent performance gains. Each choice presents unique opportunities and challenges, shaping Sainz’s decision into a compelling narrative for the season ahead.
