Carlos Sainz’s camp held discussions with Mercedes over its vacant Formula 1 seat for 2025 last weekend in Saudi Arabia, according to a report in the Italian media.
Sainz had expressed his desire to remain with Ferrari, but he has been left without a drive for next season amid the Italian marque’s shock signing of Lewis Hamilton.
The Spaniard has been linked with a switch to the Sauber-owned squad which will transition into a works Audi outfit upon F1’s latest regulation overhaul set for 2026.
Sauber Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi teased earlier this month that Sainz was on Sauber’s radar as it builds towards the German marque’s full arrival.
“It is clear that Carlos is an important driver and we have to look for our best driver lineup for 2025-2026, taking into account that our future is Audi,” Alunni Bravi said.
“Sainz is an important driver, like others. And we want the best team.”
However, Sauber has endured a tumultuous opening to the latest campaign, with the Hinwil-based squad having endured successive double Q1 exits and failed to score.
The opening at Mercedes represents the most competitive seat available on the grid despite the German outfit continuing to struggle with F1’s latest ground effect cars.
Having represented Ferrari and since became an established race winner – including the sole non-Red Bull triumph last term – Sainz would represent an enticing option.
Sainz, his father Carlos Sr and his cousin and manager Carlos Onorio were pictured talking with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff in Jeddah ahead of the grand prix.
The Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport has now reported that the extent of their conversations related to tentative talks about Sainz partnering George Russell.
“During the Saudi Arabian GP, Carlos Sainz’s entire entourage stayed in the Mercedes garage for a long time,” the outlet wrote. “Sainz Jr.’s contract at Ferrari expires at the end of the season, and for this reason, his manager Carlos Onorio, together with the driver’s father, Carlos Sainz Senior, has spoken extensively with Toto Wolff.”
Along with Sainz, his compatriot Fernando Alonso, whose deal with Aston Martin expires at the end of 2024, has been touted as an alternative to the exiting Hamilton.
Asked whether he thinks he’s on Mercedes’ list, Alonso replied ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP: “Yes, because, obviously, I don’t have any contract at the moment.
“So, it’s better to be on those lists than in the other series list or being on the retirement. But I will make the decision to commit for the future in the next few weeks or few races.”
Alonso had outlined that he was the sole F1 World Champion on the market, but recent developments at Red Bull have seen rumours gather over Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman’s father, Jos, claimed Christian Horner’s presence at the helm of Red Bull could “tear apart” the team amid the fallout from an investigation into him.
Despite Red Bull’s domination continuing into 2024, the tension within the Austrian outfit has triggered speculation that Verstappen could escape his long-term deal.
While Wolff proclaimed that he would “love” to sign the reigning World Champion, he conceded that Mercedes’ sole focus was on addressing the limitations of its car.
“First we need to sort out our car. First, we owe it to George and Lewis to improve the car and give them equipment that is good before dreaming about the future next year.”
Meanwhile, Mercedes Junior Driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, competing in Formula 2 with Prema, is thought to be under consideration for a 2025 Mercedes promotion.
However, Wolff has explained that Mercedes is in no rush to decide upon who takes Hamilton’s covered seat, stating: “I think we are going to wait. We are going to wait.
“We have a few interesting options and the more we are able to assess how the season pans out, young drivers with us against slightly older ones, that’s not going to be a decision that we want to take in the next few weeks, it will be in a few months depending on where it goes.”
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