F1 News – Sainz Jr. closing in on 2025 Mercedes deal – Rumor (3rd Update)
(GMM) Multiple authoritative Italian newspapers are all citing insider sources who believe Carlos Sainz Jr. is set to race for Mercedes in 2025.
What was just speculation last week is inching closer to reality, thanks to the reports in black and white at La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, and other Italian newspapers.
Some believe the Ferrari refugee’s deal will be for one season only – a stop-gap so that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s protégé Kimi Antonelli can gain experience at Mercedes-powered Williams next year.
Others think a two-year contract – for 2025 and 2026 – is more likely, or at least an agreement with more open-ended ‘options’ beyond Sainz’s first season in silver.
Insiders are not sure if it will be a good move for the on-form Spaniard.
“Mercedes is a long way off the pace,” former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos told Ziggo Sport. “Even (Fernando) Alonso indicated that he didn’t want to sign there.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport, however, is convinced that Sainz-to-Mercedes really is about to happen – with Audi-owned Sauber appearing to have been his only real alternative.
That Italian sports newspaper thinks Audi has instead kicked off talks with Alpine’s disillusioned driver duo, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.
Correspondent Luigi Perna thinks Antonelli will debut for Williams next year at the young age of 18, while Sergio Perez remains alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
As for Sainz-to-Mercedes, Germany’s major Bild newspaper thinks a deal will not be announced “in the next few weeks”.
No matter what happens, 29-year-old Sainz will remain at Ferrari for the rest of the 2024 season – where so far he has looked better than Charles Leclerc.
“I have to say that from last year, in the second part of the season, I saw incredible growth from Carlos,” said former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi.
“I didn’t expect to see Leclerc under such pressure and in difficulty this year,” he told Corriere dello Sport, “but he is suffering from Sainz’s performances.
“Next year, he (Leclerc) will have Lewis Hamilton next to him, so I hope Charles can find himself again. He will be fundamental for the balance of the reds.”
April 12, 2024
This rumor is close to becoming ‘fact.’ Corriere dello Sport reports Carlos Sainz Jr. has signed a deal with Mercedes for 2025. Sources tell us Mercedes have offered Sainz a 1+1 year deal for two reasons:
- It gives Kimi Antonelli time to mature
- It gives Sainz Jr. time to eventually replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull
Related Article: Formula 1 News: Driver Lineup predicted for 2025 F1 Silly Season
April 12, 2024
(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr. says he still has “no idea” which Formula 1 team he will be driving for beyond 2024. He prefers to drive for Red Bull, but it’s likely he will be stuck signing with Mercedes.
What is clear is that it won’t be a green Aston Martin – as Fernando Alonso removes himself from the ultra-early 2025 driver market.
The 42-year-old has re-committed to Aston Martin for next year and at least the first season of the new rules era in 2026, reuniting him with works Honda power.
Alonso’s new contract appears to also promise him a brand ambassadorial role for his post-racing career in the future, as he admits he had talks with other teams, believed to most notably be Mercedes and Red Bull.
“Probably yes,” the Spaniard admitted when asked if he will continue in another role at the Silverstone based team in the future. “But I don’t know when I’m going to stop driving.
“If I continue for many years, I may reach the contract (end) date. To commit to a one-year project didn’t make sense for me. I felt more loved at Aston Martin,” Alonso told reporters on Thursday.
“The other conversations were light and did not lead me to conclusions, or were taking more time. At Aston there was a clear desire to work together.”
As for Sainz, he still has an outside shot at a Red Bull or Mercedes seat, but neither appears more likely than an Audi-owned Sauber future for the 29-year-old.
“With his performance, Carlos is the one who is wanted right now,” believes Spanish F1 commentator Antonio Lobato, speaking to DAZN. “Any team wants him, so now it’s Carlos’ decision to choose the best team from among them.”
Spanish former racing driver Andy Soucek told Marca: “He deserves a place in a leading team and the entire grid knows it. And I have no doubt that it will be so.”
However, Red Bull and Mercedes are not rushing. “Everyone is waiting to see what Max Verstappen does,” surmises Michael Schmidt, a top journalist for Auto Motor und Sport.
Audi-Sauber, on the other hand, wants to settle its driver situation within mere days – which ties in with Sainz’s recent comments about wanting to speed up his own decision-making process.
Schmidt said Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg are also linked with Sauber.
Sainz insists to Sky Italia: “I have no idea where I will be in 2025. At the moment I still have nothing to say but obviously it doesn’t just depend on me but also the other teams.
“They know that I’m available. Let’s see what will happen.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, meanwhile, has emerged with new comments admitting his teen protege Kimi Antonelli is “one of the favorites” to replace Lewis Hamilton.
“Some of the other top drivers are going to make a decision on what to do soon,” he said, “but there’s a feeling that points me in a direction not to take the decision too quickly.”
April 11, 2024
(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr. could be closing in on a deal to race for Mercedes in 2025, but it may only be a short-term deal to make way for Kimi Antonelli.
Just as Fernando Alonso called a move from Aston Martin to Mercedes “not attractive”, rumors have ramped up linking Sainz with the seat that will be vacated by his own replacement at Ferrari next year – Lewis Hamilton.
“Although speculation is the order of the day,” Diario Sport journalist Laura Lopez Albiac reports, “the latest leaks from the paddock indicate that Carlos could be close to signing for Mercedes.
“In recent hours, information has emerged pointing to a fairly imminent announcement – in the coming weeks – of the agreement with the Spaniard.”
Audi-owned Sauber appears to be the 29-year-old’s only real other option, despite Red Bull figures insisting Sainz will be considered as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez.
But it is believed only Christian Horner is advocating for Sainz, with Dr Helmut Marko – on the opposing side of Red Bull’s ongoing power struggle – preferring a new one-year deal for Perez.
“It’s difficult for Sergio to fight with Max,” former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov said, “but that one-two at Suzuka speaks volumes. I think they are happy with everything as it is.
“They do not need a second Max Verstappen,” said the Russian.
According to another former F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, Horner sees Sainz as a good signing from the perspective that it protects the team from the prospect of losing Verstappen.
“Carlos is used to sitting next to strong drivers,” he told Sky Deutschland. “And Verstappen’s time there will also come to an end eventually. Carlos knows this. He believes he can beat him.”
Former F1 engineer Kees van de Grint, however, told Viaplay: “Perez will stay. He’s not the best, but he’s one of the better drivers, whilst Verstappen is in a class of his own.
A potential problem for Sainz at Mercedes, however, is that Toto Wolff is clearly grooming the teenaged Kimi Antonelli for an eventual race seat – therefore limiting the potential length of a contract.
Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde urges Sainz to be patient for now.
“He will of course be talking to everyone,” said the Dutchman, “but if I was him, I’d wait and see.
“If there is an option to get into the best car, the Red Bull, great. But as long as Max is there, Sainz will not be there. I don’t believe that.
“If something happens with Max, and he chooses another team, as Red Bull I would get Sainz. But as long as Max is there, I see Perez staying for another two years.”
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Possible Scenarios
Alonso multi-year deal with AM – makes most sense for him
Sainz 1 year deal with Mercedes (2025) and then a multi-year deal with Audi or Red Bull?
Checo 1 year deal with RBR (2025) and then one more if he performs. If not, retire.
Red Bull 2026: Max – Yuki/Liam?
Mercedes keeps all options open for 2026; Verstappen, Kimi?