Carlos Sainz ignores Audi’s offer to take risk of waiting for Red Bull or Mercedes. Carlos Sainz waits for Red Bull or Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz waits for Red Bull or Mercedes

After Fernando Alonso renewed his contract with Aston Martin, the most sought-after driver for the 2025 season has become Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver, who will part ways with Scuderia Ferrari at the end of the current Formula 1 season, still has many options available to him. According to reports from Spain, however, Audi must be excluded, at least for the moment.

The disclosure was made by Spanish journalist Antonio Lobato, who is always well-informed, especially about Formula 1 matters at the national level. According to the Spaniard, Carlos Sainz did not respond to Audi’s proposal even though it was the most lucrative, letting the deadline set by the German company pass because he sees himself in a more competitive team, especially in the more immediate future. Audi, in fact, is a gamble that offers no guarantee of success, and the only certainty concerns a “purgatory” in Sauber in 2025. The Hinwil team – according to Antonio Lobato – will soon announce Nico Hülkenberg’s teammate by considering other candidates.

The only competitive team looking for a driver for next year is Mercedes (if we still want to consider it competitive, given the further drop in performance experienced by Toto Wolff’s team in 2024, it is at least to be considered a prestigious option). Mercedes, through the comments of its team principal Toto Wolff, has clarified that they are banking everything on Max Verstappen. So, as we outlined, Carlos Sainz’s fate could be summed up in an “opposite Verstappen”: if Max Verstappen definitively breaks ties with Red Bull and moves to Mercedes, the doors of Red Bull would open for Carlos Sainz; if instead the world champion stays in Milton Keynes, Carlos Sainz could “settle” for Mercedes:

“Accepting Audi would have given him peace of mind along with a good financial offer, but Carlos Sainz preferred to take the risk to see if he could find a place in a more competitive team. Main options: Red Bull if there is movement (it seems there is) and Mercedes. They are talking, but there is nothing yet. Mercedes wants Max Verstappen, who is undoubtedly the key piece of this puzzle,” Antonio Lobato added.

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Last Sunday, in Jerez de la Frontera, Carlos Sainz closely followed the Grand Prix and expressed regret for Scuderia Ferrari’s decision to replace him to bring in Lewis Hamilton in 2025: “On one hand, it’s a positive period because I’m having a good start to the year, I’m driving well and giving my all for Ferrari. On the other hand, I’m a bit down because I’m not continuing with Ferrari, and I would have liked to continue for a few more years. Obviously, though, it’s a good moment, I will find the best compromise for next year. I have to consider all the offers; I haven’t decided yet where to go in my mind.” – he concluded.