Williams looking at two F1 drivers as they begin to run out of patience with Carlos Sainz

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The 2024 Formula 1 season is nearly at the halfway stage but next year’s grid is already beginning to shape up.

With just seven seats left to fill, all eyes are currently on Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.

The Spanish driver was the unfortunate casualty when Frederic Vasseur was offered the chance to sign seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in February and he’s had plenty of time to decide his best next step.

Other drivers in the field are patiently waiting to see what Sainz does next as he’s already been described as the cork in the bottle.

However, he’s having a difficult time deciding between the three teams who have made a contract offer for the three-time race winner: Sauber, Williams and Alpine.

Sainz has had months to decide on his next move and potential deadlines on when he’s going to make an announcement have come and gone.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

Reports from outlets Formu1a.uno and Motorsport.com now suggest that Williams are beginning to run out of patience with Sainz as they want their driver line-up confirmed sooner rather than later.

Their recent form has been worrying and team principal James Vowles may prefer to secure a strong alternative to Sainz if he decides to go elsewhere if they miss out on the Spaniard then the next-best options might not want to join a team with only two points this season.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship

Williams running out of patience with Carlos Sainz

The report from Formu1a.uno suggests that Sainz’s lack of urgency to agree a deal with Williams shows ‘a lack of belief’ in the project.

They also believe that Sainz’s willingness to consider an improved offer from Alpine is unlikely to please Williams.

James Vowles wants a driver who is ‘committed to the project’ and Sainz’s indecision is now beginning to ‘alienate’ both Williams and Sauber who wanted to sign him.

The report from Motorsport.com adds that Williams consider having a driver that ‘completely committed’ to the project ‘critical’ to a final offer being accepted.

This has left Williams questioning whether Sainz is ‘devoted’ enough to be Alex Albon’s next teammate.

However, they go on to say that the door is far from completely shut for Sainz but he would need to provide more evidence that he’s joining the team for the ‘right reasons’ should he reject moves to Sauber and Alpine.

Williams considering two drivers if Carlos Sainz continues to delay 2025 decision

The team towards the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship are now centre stage in the driver market as four of the top five manufacturers have now confirmed their line-ups.

Both reports suggest that if Williams decide to move on from Carlos Sainz as an option then Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas are the alternatives they’re considering.

READ MORE: Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Although Ocon is the only driver in that pair who has officially confirmed he’s leaving his current team, it’s hard to see Bottas staying at Sauber, especially as Audi team principal Andreas Seidl wanted to let him go at the end of last year.

The Frenchman was taking no prisoners during the Austrian Grand Prix as current teammate Pierre Gasly discovered, although he eventually got the better of him during the race.

Alpine have now stuck with Gasly for next season after letting Ocon go and there has previously been talk of Williams ruling out a move for the 27-year-old.

However, Williams’s worries about Sainz’s commitment to the project means they’ve had to open up that line of communication once again.

Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas is a much better-known quantity both in F1 and at Williams where he started his career in the series.

READ MORE: Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin

Sauber have been atrocious this season and once again in Austria didn’t look close to scoring a point.

However, he’s been much quicker than Zhou Guanyu all season and has simply been hampered by a car that’s nowhere near any of its rivals on the track at the moment.

Bottas would likely jump at the chance to drive for Williams next year as despite being the second-slowest car on the grid currently, they’re still a couple of steps ahead of the Swiss outfit.