Sainz: It’s no secret what my preferences are

In less than a year, Carlos Sainz will have to say goodbye to Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton will become Charles Leclerc’s new partner. When this became known, on the one hand, this kind of news did not make him happy, on the other hand, he was unlikely to be so upset, because he knows that he will not be short of offers from other teams.

Moreover, Frederic Vasseur does not hide the fact that the decision to invite the seven-time world champion was not made because Ferrari was dissatisfied with the Spaniard. Everyone still has fresh memories of him winning beautifully in Singapore and being the only driver in the championship, apart from Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who won the Grand Prix last year.

It is quite possible to assume that by 2025 vacancies will arise in eight teams – these are Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Alpine, Williams, VCARB, Sauber and Haas. It cannot be ruled out that the setups will change completely somewhere. The choice is as wide as possible, so the moment to switch to another team is more than opportune. What will Carlos choose?

“I know I have been performing well lately,” Sainz said in an interview with the championship’s official website. – I know that very good opportunities will arise that will allow me to remain competitive in the future.

Therefore, it is time to carefully weigh everything, listen to all opinions and not be too hasty in making a decision, because I need to understand exactly what I want and where I will go in the next three to four years of my career Spending time.

This year I turn 30, which means I’m approaching the peak of my fitness, so I need to give myself some time to analyze and take everything into consideration.

Whatever choice I make, I will try to find an option that guarantees stability, and it is also important that it is an interesting project, in which I participate and have the opportunity to become a champion in the future. I believe the key to success is consistency and stability, and to achieve this you need to really get to know the people you work with and work well with the team you will be spending more than a year with.

In general, it is no secret what my preferences are, so I need time to think about everything and make the right decision.”

It’s good if there is enough to choose from, but in reality it is not that simple, especially when you consider that Formula 1 will switch to new technical regulations in 2026, which, as often happens in such cases, could lead to changes in the balance. in force. It is not yet possible to predict which team will have the best powerplant and chassis. But these are not all questions: it is equally important to understand which team has the best infrastructure, who plans to develop it and how, and is willing to invest serious money in it. And the issue of compensation is also important. All this must be taken into account when making long-term plans.

Mercedes may be paying attention to Sainz – he is a fast and experienced driver, he has two wins and five pole positions, and is also distinguished by stability, good knowledge of technology and the ability to get along with his teammates. Give him a car that he can battle with in the front row, and he won’t let you down.

However, Mercedes must promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli, their young and talented protégé. If the Italian has a good season in Formula 2, it makes theoretical sense to put him first at Williams and team him with George Russell in 2026.

In this scenario, the team can only offer Sainz a one-year contract, and this is unlikely to suit him. But if Mercedes plans to ‘break in’ Antonelli for longer so that he really gains experience, then this is a more interesting story.

Aston Martin is also a good choice. Fernando Alonso is already 42 years old and cannot compete forever. To continue making progress, Lawrence Stroll needs a fast, experienced and consistent driver. Sainz meets expectations on all points.

But they say that Carlos is highly valued at Williams, and since this team is now on the rise, Carlos is likely to consider this option – it is attractive in its own way, although riskier.

Of course, the possibility of connecting the next stage of his career with Sauber is also interesting, because in 2026 the Swiss team will turn into Audi and gain factory status. Carlos knows Andreas Seidl, the head of the Sauber Group, very well, and his father, Sainz Sr., has long-standing and very close ties with the German company.

Red Bull Racing with VCARB cannot be written off either, because Sainz went through the school of the Red Bull youth program, although they once did not keep him there. That leaves Alpine, because he was already driving in the Renault factory team, although he did not achieve excellent results and at the end of the season he did slightly less well than Nico Hulkenberg, his more experienced teammate.

Overall, there are a lot of options, and Carlos and those around him have a lot to think about in the coming months.