F1 Rumor: Sainz Jr. back in the frame for 2025 Mercedes race seat (Update)

(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr. appears to be inching towards becoming Lewis Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes.

It now appears almost certain that Williams will oust Logan Sargeant – perhaps within the 2024 season. “I just want someone next to me who is fast,” declared incumbent Alex Albon.

“Someone who can teach me something and make the team even better.”

Sainz, still yet to sign a new deal for his post-Ferrari career from 2025, was initially the favorite for the Williams seat, having reportedly already rejected Sauber-Audi.

But he may have pushed the limits of Williams boss James Vowles’ patience too far, with Valtteri Bottas now believed to be the favorite to return to Grove in 2025.

“I have my priorities and I know exactly where I would like to drive,” the Finn said. “I can’t share anything yet, but for me it is quite clear what I want.”

Like many others still on the driver market, however, they are all waiting for ‘silly season’ favorite Sainz to make his choice – with Alpine now another option.

However, Toto Wolff has also re-opened the door to Sainz for a Mercedes seat, depending on whether he can wait perhaps several more months.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher thinks Sainz gambling on that seat could be a risk.

“The situation is getting more complicated for Carlos Sainz,” he told Sky Deutschland.

“Everyone thought he would go to Williams, but that no longer seems to be the case. The door is now open for him at Alpine, but he still sees a chance at Mercedes, because Toto Wolff has indicated that the situation has changed again.”

Journalist Daniele Sparisci wrote in Corriere della Sera: “Wolff has reopened the door for Sainz, given that Max (Verstappen) will most likely stay at Red Bull next year, and a competitive Mercedes could ‘burn’ the very young (Kimi) Antonelli.”

Schumacher surmised: “I see Sainz as the most likely option to be (George) Russell’s teammate in 2025.”

Sergio Perez may also become a late contender on the driver market, despite his recently extended Red Bull deal – which could now be terminated due to a critical and looming performance clause factor.

Red Bull looks set to open up a place at the junior team RB for Liam Lawson, resulting in Daniel Ricciardo either making the step up to Red Bull Racing or losing his spot in Formula 1 altogether.

Christian Horner is not even ruling out a step up for Yuki Tsunoda, as he clarified that the Japanese does not have a specific contract with RB but rather with Red Bull Racing.

“He’s a Red Bull driver with a contract with Red Bull,” Horner told the Dutch publication Formule 1.

Another outside shot to replace Perez is Lawson himself, as he prepares to test the 2024 Red Bull Racing car at Silverstone on Thursday for a ‘filming day’.

“I’ll actually be driving the (2012) RB8 at Silverstone on Thursday too,” team boss Horner laughed, “so you never know.

“In all seriousness, Liam’s aero test has been planned for a couple of months.”

(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr. is suddenly back in the frame to become Lewis Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes next year.

Earlier, team boss Toto Wolff ruled out the ousted Ferrari driver for 2025 because he was leaving the seat open until as late as November in case Max Verstappen suddenly decided to leave Red Bull.

It’s a risk-free strategy for Mercedes, given that Wolff’s clear ‘plan B’ is to give his own 17-year-old protégé Kimi Antonelli his Formula 1 debut next year.

“I would have liked to have chosen Carlos,” Wolff admitted earlier this week, “because he is very underrated and he works hard.

“But I don’t think he can wait as long as we need, because we might not make a decision until November.”

And now, ahead of the weekend’s British GP at Silverstone, Wolff is once again not completely ruling out 29-year-old Spaniard Sainz for the 2025 seat.

“Kimi and George (Russell) have been our junior drivers for a long time and I would like to stay faithful to the program,” he told El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.

“Having said that, with Carlos, we’d have a sure thing, especially in a very tight championship next year,” Wolff added. “If our car is good, to have another driver who is definitely going to be very competitive would be a help.

“There are certainly many arguments in favor of him (Sainz). So yes, he is (an option). If we have more time to decide, Carlos is definitely still an opportunity.

“Of course, he needs to make his decision based on what he does with the other teams,” Wolff said.

A few weeks ago, Sainz admitted he was under serious pressure from his 2025 alternatives – Audi-owned Sauber and Williams – to make a decision, but then new Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore revealed he is also pushing hard for the 3-time GP winner’s signature.

“I thank Flavio for his words,” Sainz said at Silverstone on Thursday, “because they come from someone who has been here for a long time and has seen great drivers.”

And so, as Sainz suddenly has new options that are apparently more willing to wait, the 29-year-old says he will not be pushed into a quick decision.

“From Monday to Thursday I have a lot of calls, a lot of meetings with my team and the teams I speak to, to try to understand and get a perspective on the situation,” he said. “It’s stressful and time-consuming instead of switching off and recharging. The head is somewhere else.

“But I’m not a hypocrite. I won’t deny that there are always more benefits when you’re in a stable contractual situation. I won’t deny that,” Sainz admitted.

“But I think I will take all the time I can to make the decision, because it influences the next years of my life and my career and it is legitimate for me to take my time,” he told Spanish journalists at Silverstone.