by VALERIO BARRETTA
Sainz, which house for 2025?
These are important months for Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver does not yet know his future and is talking to various teams to find out what opportunities the market offers him for next season, after the separation from Ferrari. A separation that was certainly not desired, but it was Smooth Operator he accepted and is accepting with professionalism: he would accept it more willingly if the prospects of Red Bull and Mercedes were more feasible. Instead, for different reasons, it seems that the two “big” teams don’t want the Spaniard: indeed, after the renewal of Sergio Perez, the Spaniard’s only hope for going to Red Bull is that of a farewell from Max Verstappen.
Sainz would be left with the hypotheses he had initially left out (Sauber, which would later become Audi) and any other underlying team. Among these, there is one that at least historically has some capacity for attraction: the Williams. But is it an option that really suits Sainz? Ralf Schumacher believes not.
Schumacher’s words
“I’ll tell you in advance: Williams is still a dead end at the moment. I’m honest, although I really like James Vowles“, these are his words to Formel1.de. “Since I know the Williams company, I can’t be sure that Sainz would feel comfortable in such an environment. I think Audi is the better long term choicealso due to his father’s ties to the company”.
Roads closed
The evolution of the Red Bull affair contributed to derailing Sainz’s plans. The Spaniard expected, and perhaps hoped, that internal power struggles would lead Verstappen to pack his bags, but in recent weeks the environment in Milton Keynes seems to have become more united considering the difficulties that emerged on the track. The alternative would have been Mercedes, who however want to raise “their” Verstappen at home (Andrea Kimi Antonelli, in whom Toto Wolff has blind faith). With Aston Martin having renewed Fernando Alonso’s contract, and as long as Lance Stroll’s job is safe, Sainz is left with only bets. The ones that can most attract him are Sauber / Audi, Williams and RB, where he could attempt the failed takeover of Daniel Ricciardo (but as long as Verstappen is in Red Bull, Sainz is unlikely to be second to him). The rest (Alpine and Haas) are scenarios that #55 would never have considered.
#SainzWilliams #Ralf #Schumacher #skeptical #dead
