Carlos Sainz has become a critical piece in the F1 driver market puzzle. With offers from three teams for next season, many in the paddock are waiting for his decision.
Over the weekend in Spa, Sainz intriguingly remarked, “On the thinking side, I’m pretty calm. I know what I want and why I’m waiting.” This suggests he might be eyeing opportunities beyond Sauber/Audi, Williams, and Alpine.
With no openings at Aston Martin, McLaren, and Ferrari, this hints at possibilities like Mercedes or Red Bull. At the same time, Mercedes’ recent wins complicate the situation for rookie Kimi Antonelli, as they might prefer an experienced driver if they’re title contenders in 2024. For Sainz, even a one-year stint with Mercedes could be a golden opportunity.
Red Bull is facing its own dilemma with Sergio Perez, who has scored just 21 points in eight races. If Perez is dropped, Daniel Ricciardo might get another shot. But if that doesn’t work out, Red Bull has a pool of young drivers like Liam Lawson ready to step up.
Meanwhile, Williams’ boss James Vowles is eager to recruit Sainz. Vowles said, “The odds are in our favor,” and Sainz reciprocated the sentiment, praising Vowles’ work ethic and the team’s direction.
There’s speculation that Sainz could run out of options if the teams move on. However, Sainz feels his cautious approach is validated by recent team developments at Alpine and Sauber/Audi. He noted, “It feels, yeah, a privilege to be so well-regarded by these teams… it’s been a very complex driver market.”
Sainz also mentioned he’s learning more about the teams each week. “So even though I see some fans and some media getting impatient, saying ‘why is he waiting so long’, when you look at the market… waiting was exactly the right thing to do,” he explained.
As the summer break begins, Sainz looks forward to a brief respite. He stated, “What I look forward to is to go to the summer break and not hear this question for three weeks.” However, he remains calm and confident, reiterating, “On the thinking side, I’m pretty calm. I know what I want and why I’m waiting.”
Drama isn’t far off-track either. Max Verstappen hasn’t won a Grand Prix in his last four outings, a rare dry spell since 2020. Starting from P11 at Spa, Verstappen quickly climbed the ranks, yet he struggled to break into the lead due to an obstinate George Russell.
After the race, Verstappen admitted, “You get stuck in that DRS train – and we weren’t fast enough anyway.” He speculated he could have gained more positions with different tire strategies, but it wasn’t meant to be this time.
As the summer break looms, the F1 driver market is rife with speculation and anticipation. Carlos Sainz remains the key figure, and his eventual decision will undoubtedly ripple through the entire grid. Stay tuned!
