Every Thursday, the entire Formula 1 team has a mandatory meeting at the Ferrari motorhome. Carlos Sainz is speaking. Almost half a year has now passed since he started looking for a new job following Ferrari’s signing of Lewis Hamilton. While other drivers and teams are becoming increasingly restless, Sainz is bringing out his inner egoist – and making the process even slower.
One thing is certain: at least Audi-Sauber, Williams and Alpine are interested in bringing Sainz in for 2025. Since the Spaniard is clearly the best option on the market, all three teams are prepared to submit to Sainz’s delaying tactics. Sainz is now taking full advantage of this fact. A month ago he announced: “I don’t want to wait much longer.” There was no more of that on Thursday before Hungary.
Will Carlos Sainz’s delaying tactics be rewarded for 2025?
“Yes, the teams are very patient and I thank them for that, but I have to be patient too,” said Sainz. “It’s not like I’m the only one who makes decisions here. I had to take my patience pill and be patient.” His patience was rewarded just a few weeks ago when Alpine also approached him.
On top of that, Mercedes also seems to be showing renewed interest in the Spaniard. Due to a lack of alternatives, in case they do not want to rush the teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli into the factory cockpit next to George Russell.
The options vary greatly. If Mercedes is actually interesting, Sainz would probably only be a stopgap solution there to better prepare Antonelli elsewhere. The other teams would like to tie the Spaniard down for the long term, and he would also like a long-term deal – but there is no guarantee that Sauber, Williams or Alpine will make the promised step forward when the rules change in 2026.
The long-term options in particular therefore require careful evaluation. This also includes what the long-term plans of these teams are to transform themselves into winners in a few years. In Hungary, Sainz evaded the question of whether he would prefer a short-term contract with a top team or a long-term place with a (at least current) backbencher: “Everything makes sense.”
Sainz is not impressed by impatient colleagues: Must be more selfish
Meanwhile, the teams and fellow drivers waiting for him are getting a bit frustrated. Sainz doesn’t care: “Of course I’m aware of that, but I don’t know what would change. I’m just changing the timing. I don’t think I’m changing the result for anyone. All the teams probably have their priorities and their prepared decisions for every scenario by now, right?”
“I don’t really understand why the market is turning so early this year,” Sainz wonders. “Why everyone is so stressed. I remember that it used to be around the summer break. September, July, those were the times when these things happened.”
In the meantime, unlike a few weeks ago, Sainz has completely stopped making a time frame public. He only reacts with humor: “In any case, I’m getting closer to the decision with every week, or every day! But I was busy with the European Football Championship, so I couldn’t make a decision yet, sorry!”