Carlos Sainz hails ‘super’ Formula 1 team who want to sign him for next season

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Carlos Sainz is still yet to sign a deal for 2025 as the summer break approaches. Few would have expected the uncertainty to drag on this long.

Sainz has known since the winter that Ferrari are signing Lewis Hamilton. But he’s yet to receive an offer good enough to take himself off the market.

Mercedes initially cooled on Sainz without ever fully ruling themselves out. That’s despite a fine run of form from the Spaniard in 2024.

He took his third career victory in Australia in March, just two weeks after undergoing an appendectomy that endangered his participation in the race. He’s subsequently bagged three more podiums and continues to stack up fairly well against Charles Leclerc.

Indeed, Sainz is only eight points behind the Monegasque despite his enforced absence in Saudi Arabia. The qualifying battle is close (7-5 Leclerc) and the race-day head-to-head even tighter (6-5 Leclerc).

The 29-year-old now appears to be firmly back in contention for a Mercedes drive, with Toto Wolff and co. clearly hesitant over Kimi Antonelli. He may keep midfield teams waiting until he has a firm answer from Brackley.

Carlos Sainz praises Williams ahead of potential 2025 move

Another team at the forefront of the battle for Sainz is Williams. Team principal James Vowles has tied down Alex Albon but is shopping for a replacement for Logan Sargeant.

Williams were ready to announce Sainz at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, but he hesitated. Much as this would have been frustrating, they’ve yet to announce an alternative signing.

Valtteri Bottas is currently the favourite to partner Albon, but that could change if Sainz indicates a willingness to join. And he’s spoken highly of Williams in an interview with Spanish GQ.

The Grove outfit are struggling this season with just four points on the board. But they’re undoubtedly an iconic team, with 16 championships, 114 wins and 313 podiums under their belt.

“Williams is a team that, as you say, is super emblematic in Formula 1,” Sainz said. “Yes, it is one of the few that I have left.

“Red Bull Racing too, Mercedes too, there are two or three teams that I have not yet been to that I might go to in the future. I don’t know when, to be honest, because the future still seems to be quite uncertain, not even I know, to give you an idea.

“What I do know is that I have been in five different teams in these ten years, as I told you before, and I have very good memories of each team that I have been in. I know that if tomorrow the opportunity arises to return to any of these teams, then I can go back, so I’ll stick with it.”

What Pierre Gasly has done to convince Carlos Sainz to join Alpine

Sainz has ‘cancelled’ negotiations with Sauber despite the impending arrival of Audi in 2026. They’ve yet to score in 2024 and it seems he can’t accept the level of strife he’d likely face next year.

But Alpine are a viable option. Flavio Briatore improved his offer for Sainz just when he looked to be on the verge of joining Williams.

Prospective teammate Pierre Gasly is doing what he can to convince him. Speaking before the Hungarian GP, Gasly said he’d ‘done his fair share’ in discussions with Sainz.

Alpine are only one spot above Williams in the championship, having scored nine points. A possible engine tie-up with Mercedes, however, makes them an attractive option.