Sainz, from Germany certain: Mercedes and Audi are the only options for 2025

F1 Sainz – Doubts are growing day by day about the future of Carlos Sainz, the Spanish standard bearer who will say goodbye to Scuderia Ferrari at the end of this season – after an experience of three years. While waiting to understand what type of movements will be carried out for 2025, the German newspaper F1-insider.com has tried to bring order to the many rumors that have circulated in recent weeks, specifying that to date Mercedes and Audi are the only options on the table Iberian representative of the Red Team. The road that leads to Red Bull is more difficult, almost impossible, given that in Milton Keynes they are increasingly convinced of confirming the figure of Sergio Perez, at least until the 2026 season, when more interesting scenarios will open up as far as the market is concerned .

Verstappen in Mercedes in 2026, Audi and Mercedes options for 2025

The possible arrival of Max Verstappen at Mercedes, initially planned for 2025 but easier to achieve in 2026, would be leading the Stuttgart company to offer Sainz a current contract until the end of the 2025 world championship, waiting to understand what type of decisions to be made in 2026 (a line-up made up of Verstappen, in fact, and Kimi Antonelli is quite teasing given that George Russell will expire in 2025). A contractual solution not appreciated by the Spaniard who would prefer a multi-year agreement, also for a more “calm” management of his future in Formula 1.

A solidity that puts the House of the Four Rings on the table, ready to guarantee the current Ferrari driver not only a central role in the project, which will start from 2026 (Sainz, in this case, should race with the Sauber colors in 2025) , but also a rich multi-figure contract. The problem, in this case, would be the guarantees: although Audi is a true automotive giant, both sporting and otherwise, there are no certainties about the technical project of the German brand and 2026 would be a real leap in the dark.

Sainz hesitates, Gasly and Ocon Audi’s first alternatives for 2025

In short, a joker to play with risks and related. By choosing Audi, Sainz would have a “stable” contract but would remove himself from the market and would not have the possibility of possibly linking up with Red Bull in 2026, while by opting for Mercedes he would keep the door of the World Champion team open, but would risk finding himself without a contract for 2026. The arrival in Milton Keynes would depend on the choices of Verstappen and Perez, while in Audi there would be Nico Hulkenberg and possibly one of the two Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, the German company’s first alternatives in the event of refusal of the Spanish. We just have to wait and see what kind of developments there will be in the coming weeks.