Sky Sports F1 journalist Craig Slater recently shared insights on Carlos Sainz’s likely destination for the 2025 season.
The 29-year-old driver has several options available, with Slater indicating that “well-placed people” believe Williams is the most attractive proposition for Sainz.
Team principal James Vowles has already secured Alex Albon until the end of 2026 and is making significant changes to enhance the team’s performance.
Securing Sainz could propel the Grove-based team up the standings.
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“Well-placed people believe Carlos Sainz’s most attractive option for 2025 is Williams,” Slater stated.
While driver pairings rarely dictate a team’s development, they can influence progress.
In Formula 1, financial contributions from drivers are becoming less crucial due to increased sponsorship money.
Currently, Williams’ pairing of Alex Albon with Logan Sargeant is under scrutiny.
Sargeant has yet to finish in the top ten, though he was promoted into the points at the 2023 Austin race following disqualifications.
Williams is evaluating its options, with Sainz at the top of their list. Sainz’s camp has been impressed with Williams’ talks, and a satisfactory contract offer is reportedly on the table.
Slater commented on the F1 driver market: “Well, the big question is what does Carlos Sainz do now? I think he’s known for maybe at least a week or two that this seat wasn’t available to him.
He has the choice of being the lead driver in Audi’s entry in Formula 1, this is currently the team known as Sauber but it’s going to be a big works team for the Volkswagen Group, or Williams.
Now, Williams hadn’t been linked with him so much until about the last two or three weeks, but actually some well-placed people are telling me that that team seems a more attractive proposition to him right now than this Sauber prospect.
It’s well led with James Vowles, it has Mercedes engines in the car from 2026. Sainz has had the experience of going to a manufacturer and it not working out too well, so let’s see.
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“There’s no reason now for him to delay his decision, you would think we’ll get that soon.”
While Eddie Jordan suggested Aston Martin, it’s unlikely Lawrence Stroll will replace his son Lance.
Mercedes and other teams like Alpine and Haas are not on Sainz’s radar, making Williams his probable fifth F1 team in 2025.