Guenther Steiner predicts where Carlos Sainz will go after speaking to Toto Wolff

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Carlos Sainz still hasn’t signed with a new team for 2025 as the summer break approaches. Virtually the entire paddock would have expected him to have made his choice by now.

It would seem that Sainz is holding out for an offer from Mercedes. The Silver Arrows are delaying the market as they consider their options post-Lewis Hamilton.

If Max Verstappen proves to be unattainable – which looks to be the case even amid recent tension with Red Bull – then Toto Wolff is choosing between Sainz and Kimi Antonelli. The latter’s underwhelming F2 form left Wolff with some doubts but he won his first race in the Silverstone Sprint and then followed it up with a Feature Race victory in Hungary.

Alpine, Williams and Sauber/Audi still haven’t confirmed their line-ups as they wait for clarity from Sainz. They don’t want to commit to an alternative and then find that the Spaniard would have been willing to join.

As a midfield team, the 29-year-old is a driver worth waiting for. With three race wins, five poles and 23 podiums to his name, he’d surely be the outstanding figure below the four frontrunners.

Sainz has already ruled out a sabbatical with a view to securing a more desirable 2026 seat. He’s ready to commit to battling for points if it comes to it.

Guenther Steiner expects Carlos Sainz to join Alpine

Speaking on the Red Flags Podcast, Guenther Steiner predicted that Sainz would end up at Alpine. He doesn’t see him replacing Hamilton, or indeed Sergio Perez if he loses his Red Bull drive.

After a conversation with Wolff on German television, he’s under the impression that Mercedes will go with Antonelli. He suspects the move is already planned.

Alpine are at least set to be a Mercedes customer after engine supply negotiations. The two parties have now reached an agreement in principle.

They’re currently eighth in the constructors’ championship, having scored just nine points this year. But Sainz expects the Mercedes power unit to be the best come 2026, so he’d join the team with a sense of optimism.

“I think Sainz will end up at Alpine,” Steiner said. “I don’t think Sainz will go to Mercedes or to Red Bull at this stage. I think the Mercedes [signing] will be Kimi Antonelli.

“I don’t know why I say that but that’s my feeling in the moment. I spoke with Toto, we interviewed him for RTL [on] German TV. He said he takes all his time to decide but if you take your time that means that you know what you’re doing, or you have an agreement.”

Why Alpine may reject Sainz for 2025

A new report suggests Steiner’s predicted route may in fact be closed off. Alpine are apparently prioritising Jack Doohan over Sainz, which could force him to turn back to Audi.

The Ferrari driver has long had an offer on the table from the German manufacturer, but has showed little interest in accepting it. However, they have just signed Mattia Binotto, the ex-Ferrari team principal.

Binotto is hoping to convince Sainz to join, but the internal upheaval may be a cause for concern. Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffman have both lost their jobs even before a wheel has been turned.

Likewise, Alpine are set to axe Bruno Famin as their team principal during the break. That will continue the exodus from Enstone, one that seems to have had an effect on their on-track performance.

Stability may be a priority for Sainz given that it’s inherently risky to join a midfield team. He may end up knocking on Williams’ door again, assuming they haven’t already filled their vacancy.