Carlos Sainz is stirring up the F1 world with hints about his next move after Ferrari announced Lewis Hamilton would replace him. Despite this shake-up, Sainz has shown remarkable resilience, now trailing just eight points behind teammate Charles Leclerc. Even an emergency appendectomy before the Saudi Arabia race couldn’t hold him back; he bounced back two weeks later to win the Australian Grand Prix.
Sainz’s performance this season has been impressive, even matching up with Leclerc in many areas. The Spaniard is only 7-5 behind in Grand Prix qualifying and even closer with a 6-5 race day head-to-head count. Earlier this year, Sainz was in talks with Mercedes. While Toto Wolff initially suggested he look elsewhere, recent comments hint that the door isn’t entirely closed, with Wolff saying Sainz is ‘still an option.’
Rumors about Sainz joining Williams were rampant during the Spanish Grand Prix, but nothing was confirmed. A grumpy James Vowles refused to comment on the matter, though Williams had previously shown interest, saying their number one target was Sainz. Meanwhile, the involvement of Flavio Briatore as a special consultant added more fuel to the speculation fire.
It seems Sainz has ruled out a move to Sauber/Audi. Valterri Bottas suggested that his own contract negotiations were on hold, waiting for Sainz’s decision. Bottas said, ‘I was hoping there would be decisions made earlier this week, but deadlines got pushed back again.’ With Alpine potentially moving to Mercedes power units, they might become a more attractive option for Sainz, despite their current struggles.
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Sainz discussed his career, saying he’s driven for five different teams in ten years. He mentioned that he still has good memories from each of these teams and would be open to returning if the opportunity arose. At the same event, Pierre Gasly admitted he’d tried to persuade Sainz to join Alpine. ‘I did my fair share of the job,’ Gasly said, emphasizing his belief in Alpine’s project.
Sainz’s situation is keeping several F1 drivers on edge as they await decisions that will shape their own futures. Even veterans like Toto Wolff acknowledge the complexities of the situation, especially with Mercedes potentially losing Aston Martin as a customer team in 2026. The web of alliances and rivalries in F1 is constantly evolving, and Sainz’s next move could be a significant turning point for several teams.
As the F1 summer break approaches, the spotlight is on Carlos Sainz and his next move. With numerous possibilities on the table and various teams showing interest, the F1 world is eagerly awaiting his decision. Whatever choice he makes, it will undoubtedly have a ripple effect across the grid.
