Carlos Sainz could ‘suddenly’ accept Mercedes contract clause he previously rejected

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Carlos Sainz would have expected to join a fellow front-runner when Ferrari informed him in the winter that they had signed Lewis Hamilton. His stock was nearing an all-time high.

Sainz was the only driver outside Red Bull to win a Grand Prix in 2023 as he triumphed in Singapore. And he then took his third career victory in Australia in March, just a fortnight after an appendectomy.

It seemed inevitable at that stage that he’d join a competitive team. He was driving at a level they simply couldn’t ignore.

However, the picture began to shift over time. Mercedes turned their attention to the future and academy driver Kimi Antonelli, Red Bull re-signed Sergio Perez and Aston Martin locked down their driver line-up too.

This left Sainz looking to the bottom three teams in the championship. Williams got as far as preparing an announcement at the Spanish GP, but he hesitated at the last moment.

Sainz then appeared set to join Alpine, but that talk has now cooled. Sauber/Audi, meanwhile, weren’t able to make a breakthrough in negotiations.

Carlos Sainz now open to one-year Mercedes deal

The 29-year-old has chosen to bide his time, a risky strategy given that he’s without a seat. But this may have paid off, with midfield teams still waiting for him and Mercedes giving fresh consideration to a move amid doubts over Antonelli.

According to Motorsport Magazin’s Christian Menath, the landscape has now shifted. Sainz previously rejected a one-year deal from Mercedes but may be willing to accept it at this point.

That’s because the Silver Arrows are markedly more competitive than they were at the start of the year. They didn’t finish on the podium at all until the Canadian GP last month, but they’ve now won the last two races.

‘Suddenly’, Sainz realises that he could be in with a chance of winning a championship at Brackley in 2025. And while he could still lose his seat to Antonelli for 2026, that makes the gamble worthwhile.

“Suddenly, there is interest again, but on both sides,” Menath said. “What happened? Mercedes suddenly became competitive. 

“You can’t offer Carlos Sainz a long-term contract, maybe only a one-year contract. You have to keep your options open for Antonelli, at least for 2026.

“That wasn’t really lucrative for Carlos Sainz, especially because Mercedes started the season with a car that wasn’t capable of winning at all. ‘Why do I want one season with Mercedes if I can’t do anything big?’

“That has now changed in the last few races. Mercedes has been the fastest car at times, and suddenly a transitional season for Carlos Sainz at Mercedes might become really interesting again. 

“Mercedes might need a top driver who can compete for the world championship. That’s why Carlos is there again – big in the raffle.”

Damon Hill names the attribute Sainz has over Charles Leclerc

Sainz’s 2024 season has gone through three phases. Energised by Ferrari’s rejection, he made a storming start, scoring podiums either side of that Melbourne win.

But from the Chinese GP onwards, Charles Leclerc regained the initiative. He would outqualify Sainz for six consecutive Grands Prix.

Recently, though, Ferrari have stalled after an unsuccessful upgrade. Sainz has been better able to cope with the newfound limitations of the SF-24, beating his struggling teammate in Austria and Great Britain.

Damon Hill says Sainz ‘takes command’ of the strategy, whereas Leclerc doesn’t exude the same ‘confidence’. The Spaniard is only four points behind in the championship despite starting one race fewer.