After eight race weekends in the 2024 Formula 1 season, Carlos Sainz remains without a race seat for next season, despite being one of just four Grand Prix winners this year.
Lewis Hamilton is eager to start at Ferrari, given the current challenges faced by Mercedes.
According to a report from Motorsport.com, Carlos Sainz’s options for 2025 have become even more limited.
Ferrari and McLaren were immediately ruled out for Sainz next year, and Fernando Alonso’s new deal at Aston Martin closed off another potential option unless Lawrence Stroll decides to part ways with his son, Lance.
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Mercedes does not appear interested in Sainz, with Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli being the top candidates to join George Russell next year.
Several lower-tier teams are interested in Sainz, but it’s now understood that he is no longer a candidate for Red Bull next year.
This development is positive news for Sergio Perez, despite his struggles over the past two race weekends.
With two options currently available, all eyes are on where the 29-year-old will end up.
When it was revealed that Sainz would leave Ferrari at the end of the season, Red Bull seemed like the best alternative for the three-time race winner.
Sergio Perez’s contract expires at the end of the year, and despite finishing 2nd in the Drivers’ Championship last year, team principal Christian Horner still wanted to see improvements in 2024.
Perez initially addressed these issues with three 2nd-place finishes in the first four races, but as Ferrari and McLaren have closed the gap to Red Bull, Perez has struggled.
Although the Monaco accident wasn’t entirely his fault, his poor performance on Saturday put him near the back of the pack.
Nevertheless, Perez remains the leading candidate to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull next year instead of Sainz.
Reports suggest that Verstappen wouldn’t be comfortable racing against someone as fast as Sainz, as he wants to remain the team’s clear number-one driver.
This situation leaves Sainz in a difficult position, with a 50/50 choice to make soon.
Williams and Audi are the most likely destinations for Sainz, with Red Bull no longer an option.
His management is in serious negotiations with both teams, who want a decision soon.
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At Williams, he would team up with Alex Albon, another former Red Bull driver who just scored his team’s first points of the season in Monte Carlo.
Sainz might have to spend a year at bottom team Sauber before Audi enters the sport in 2026.
Given the time it might take for Audi to become competitive, he may be better off joining James Vowles at Williams next year.