Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has indicated he is prepared to risk missing out on Carlos Sainz to Audi in order to assess how the 2025 Formula 1 driver market develops.
The German marque is weighing up the available options to partner George Russell next season amid Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave to pursue a switch to Ferrari.
Wolff has been open that his main desire would be to prise Max Verstappen from Red Bull, but the Dutchman is under contract and has voiced his intention to remain.
Sainz has become the most established name available since Ferrari announced that seven-time champion Hamilton will replace him at the Italian outfit next season.
However, Sauber is also in the running to acquire the Spaniard’s signature as Audi seeks to have him in place alongside Nico Hulkenberg in time for its arrival in 2026.
Amid reports Sainz has until the end of the month to respond to Audi’s proposal, Wolff has admitted Mercedes is willing to see another option vanish to take his time.
“I think Carlos has his place in Formula 1, he is a Ferrari race winner in the last two years and someone with huge experience,” Wolff said post-race at Imola.
“I think what I said is I’m prepared to compromise in certain decisions and to wait long how the situation ends out over the summer and into autumn.
“In George, we have a great driver that is with us and fantastic and then let’s see who is going to be his team-mate. But we don’t need to take this decision now.”
Meanwhile, Mercedes protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is competing in his maiden Formula 2 season, has been touted as the other option for the vacant 2025 drive.
The Italian has been combining his F2 responsibilities with a rigorous testing programme in previous Mercedes F1 cars as he gets geared up to graduate to the top tier.
Rumours have stated Williams has lodged a dispensation request to exempt Antonelli, 17, from the FIA’s minimum age rules, but Wolff is against a premature F1 debut.
“We are hyping that young man for a long time now and he will be very good and a great driver one day in F1, but he’s 17, 14 months ago he drove an F4 car,” he warned.
“And there’s so much expectations in Italy and we are a little bit guilty also of that, and I think we should let him do his F2 thing and deliver results and not be too carried away with what could be or should be, you know, look at George he won F3, F2 in his rookie year.
“And at the same time Kimi has delivered in those junior series and is in F2 now so we’ll see, he’s going to be in F1 one day but let’s not rush it.”
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