The surprising decision by Lewis Hamilton to sign a deal with Ferrari has upended the whole grid. While it was his childhood desire to race for Ferrari, the decision caused concern among numerous F1 drivers. Carlos Sainz, the current Ferrari driver, will be replaced by Hamilton in 2025. Thus, the Spaniard’s racing career is on hold until he finds a new team. Furthermore, Hamilton’s departure caused panic within the Mercedes team, which needed to find a replacement.
However, F1 fans believed that the Silver Arrows would be the ideal home for Sainz since they would provide him with stability. Others speculated that Red Bull would replace failing Sergio Perez with the Spaniard, who had had a great 2024 season so far. However, Carlos’s Red Bull journey ended before it began, as the team re-signed Perez. Moreover, he has brushed off Williams’s rumors, leaving Mercedes the only viable option.
Carlos Sainz ‘Laughs’ About His Williams Move Speculations
As Lewis Hamilton is packing his bags for Ferrari, Carlos Sainz may be an ideal option for the three-pointed star. The Spaniard has been in excellent form throughout the 2024 season. He maneuvers accurately through the tight turns, and his racing expertise is an advantage. Thus, the Mercedes-Sainz cooperation appeared to be a safe investment.
However, the contract negotiation is at a halt for various reasons. The Brackley-based team is developing a young Italian talent for the future. Kimi Antonelli, widely touted as the future Hamilton, is the team’s top selection. Furthermore, given his age and lack of experience, Toto Wolff does not want to hurry him to the grid. Meanwhile, Wolff wants Kimi to experience the excitement of Formula One with Williams for around a year. Until then, the team seeks a one-year ‘stop-gap’ driver to fill the position. Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, wants at least a two-year deal based on his expertise and recent successes. As a result, the discussions are stalled due to Sainz and Mercedes’ opposing objectives.
Thus, many speculated that Williams would be his next home. However, recently, he has brushed off all the rumors. Carlos Sainz addressed the rumors circulating in the media about his potential move to Williams. He found the reports amusing, recalling how similar claims suggested he had signed with Mercedes and Red Bull just three months ago, which clearly did not materialize. Sainz expressed that while the current rumors about Williams make him ‘laugh,’ they also highlight how some media outlets often spread unverified information without facing any repercussions.
Former Red Bull Engineer Reveals Why Carlos Sainz Was Denied A Seat
Former Red Bull engineer Daniel Drury explained why Sainz was never considered for the Austrian squad. He responded on Twitter to reports about Sainz’s Red Bull participation. He said the spectators had forgotten the friction between Carlos Sainz Sr. and Jos Verstappen. Carlos and Max’s fathers were Toro Rosso’s colleagues and had a fierce rivalry. Sainz started his career at Toro Rosso alongside Max Verstappen. However, Max was transferred to the Red Bull squad while Sainz was sidelined.
Similarly, F1 commentator Simon Lazenby indicated the exact reason why Sainz was not a Red Bull choice. Given their dads’ previous animosity, he stated that handling both drivers would have been difficult for RBR management.
