Carlos Sainz Jr, who conquered the third place in the Japanese Grand Prix, expressed his desire to accelerate discussions about his future in Formula 1 in 2025. Recent rumors linked him to a vacant seat at Mercedes, leading him to reconsider his plans. Although Sainz initially wanted to renew his contract with Ferrari, his hopes were dashed when Lewis Hamilton joined the team. Now, Sainz recognizes the need to intensify negotiations and find the best options for his future.
Although Sainz has been associated with a possible return to Red Bull, Sergio Perez is likely to secure an extension with the team. In addition, Fernando Alonso has already signed a multi-year renewal with Aston Martin. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff mentioned Sainz’s name as one of the credible options to replace Hamilton at Ferrari. When asked about his future before the Japanese Grand Prix, Sainz confirmed that he and his management team are in negotiations with several teams.
Sainz emphasized the importance of exploring realistic options and finding the best fit for his career. However, he did not provide any specific news or updates on his decision. He did, however, stress the need to accelerate the process and reach a resolution as soon as possible. Sainz’s chances of securing a prominent place at Mercedes were strengthened by his impressive performance, which includes three podiums in three races.
Según informes de los medios italianos, tanto Sainz como Mercedes están interesados en formar una asociación que vería a Sainz unirse a George Russell en el equipo la próxima temporada. Mercedes ve a Sainz como la opción más adecuada a corto plazo y está abierta a ofrecer un contrato de uno más uno. Este arreglo permitiría a Mercedes mantener flexibilidad en el mercado de pilotos, especialmente si Max Verstappen se vuelve disponible por Red Bull. Además, proporcionaría una oportunidad para que Mercedes entrene a su protegido, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, quien actualmente compite en la Fórmula 2.
Sin embargo, también es importante señalar que Sainz puede no estar dispuesto a aceptar las condiciones propuestas por Mercedes. Según informes, él desea un contrato garantizado de dos temporadas a partir de 2025. A menos que se pueda llegar a un compromiso durante las negociaciones, las únicas opciones restantes para Sainz serían Sauber, que se convertirá en Audi en 2026, o Williams.