Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has disclosed Carlos Sainz is no longer an option for its 2025 Formula 1 line-up as he claimed the team now wants to “reinvent ourselves”.
The German marque hasn’t divulged who will replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton next season as it mulls over the candidates to partner incumbent George Russell.
Sainz, who will leave Ferrari to facilitate Hamilton’s impending arrival, was named on Mercedes’ radar earlier this term and was viewed as a suitable short-term option.
However, the Spaniard has been adamant that he is seeking to acquire a longer-term commitment from his next team and Wolff has now ruled him out of the running.
Instead, the Austrian, 52, has revealed he informed Sainz that he was not under consideration as Mercedes hedges its bets on teenage protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“We just want to concentrate on Kimi, that is our future, young drivers,” Wolff told Sky Germany.
“We want to commit to that, to young drivers and that is what we’ve told Carlos.”
Antonelli, 17, has been combining his maiden Formula 2 campaign with multiple F1 tests in previous-spec Mercedes cars as he’s lined up to graduate to the top flight.
Regarding the choice to prioritise an unproven prospect over an established three-time race winner, Wolff suggested that Mercedes was preparing to turn a new page.
The long-serving Mercedes Team Principal also added that he would’ve considered it unfair to leave Sainz in the lurch as he endeavours to resolve his own prospects.
“I think first of all, Carlos deserves a top seat,” he added to Sky Sports F1. “He’s done a fantastic job.
“But for us, we’ve embarked on a route now to say you know what we want to reinvent ourselves a bit going forward and Kimi Antonelli definitely plays a part in that.
“We haven’t taken a decision yet for next year, but we didn’t want to have Carlos wait as he needs to take a decision for himself. That’s just fair. He’s doing a super job.”
