Where does Carlos go now?

[Tazar]

After a season where he won Ferrari’s only win he has proved himself a good driver and must be in the sights of several teams now that he has been dropped by Ferrari. His reputation hasn’t been damaged by being replaced by Hamilton. If he has a good season and outperforms Charles then he makes a mockery of Ferrari’s decision.
So where does he go now? Obviously Mercedes has a vacant seat and their choice could open seats in other teams.
Some have said Bottas back to Mercedes as he was a winner when with them before and Hamilton said that he was the perfect teammate. Maybe to replace Perez at Red Bull? Maybe to Aston replacing Lance alongside Alonso? That would be a strong pairing.

[Mammasaid]

Audi

[Muzzer79]

Mercedes or Sauber

[flatlandsman]

I think it has been Audi for a very long time, he was very present at the Dakar where his father drives for them, Sainz has been doing Dakar for years and have never seen Jr much there before!

[ralphrj]

flatlandsman said:

I think it has been Audi for a very long time, he was very present at the Dakar where his father drives for them, Sainz has been doing Dakar for years and have never seen Jr much there before!

This ^. Ever since Audi announced their plans for F1 the reports have mentioned Sainz as a potential team leader. The fact that no other driver is so frequently mentioned in connection to Audi makes me think that it is a done deal and open secret in the paddock. However, I think his deal is from 2026 so he is now out of a drive in 2025 but only available for 1 season which may not appeal to teams like McLaren if they lose Norris or Piastri to Mercedes. Mercedes might see him as a safe holding option whilst they assess Andrea Kimi Antonelli though.

[zsdom]

I hope he does get another top seat & even better if it is at Audi

IMHO Ferrari have got rid of the wrong driver

[Deesee]

Red Bull

[vaud]

I have a horrible feeling that the answer might be "not F1" when all of the musical chairs finally get resolved.

[Tazar]

Carlos is too good a driver not to be in a F1 car in 2005. He’s a pole position and race winner. As a No.1 in a team he’d have confidence and could develop a car around him.

[Jasandjules]

I would be amused if the answer was Mercedes. But I have a feeling the answer is Formula E or Rally or something for a year then back in 26.

[zsdom]

Tazar said:

Carlos is too good a driver not to be in a F1 car in 2005. He’s a pole position and race winner. As a No.1 in a team he’d have confidence and could develop a car around him.

Of all the cars I’d like to see him drive, a Delorean was not on the list

[FourWheelDrift]

It's probably Audis interest in Sainz that forced Ferrari's hand with Hamilton. Or at least get it done quickly, maybe they thought they couldn't get him as well.

[820T]

Red Bull

[Diderot]

zsdom said:

Tazar said:

Carlos is too good a driver not to be in a F1 car in 2005. He’s a pole position and race winner. As a No.1 in a team he’d have confidence and could develop a car around him.

Of all the cars I’d like to see him drive, a Delorean was not on the list

Merc or Sauber in 25.

[Evercross]

I'm going to call it now.

Sainz to McLaren in 2025 with his salary being paid for by returning sponsors Estrella Galicia.

Norris to Mercedes, with a very, very sweet long-term deal on Mercedes engines being the incentive to let him break contract.

Zak Brown is first-and-foremost a businessman, and I reckon he saw the Hamilton to Ferrari move coming and got his ducks in a row in preparation for exactly the above. Either that or he is the luckiest fecker in the paddock as he is a prime place to capitalise on recent events.

[thegreenhell]

ralphrj said:

This ^. Ever since Audi announced their plans for F1 the reports have mentioned Sainz as a potential team leader. The fact that no other driver is so frequently mentioned in connection to Audi makes me think that it is a done deal and open secret in the paddock. However, I think his deal is from 2026 so he is now out of a drive in 2025 but only available for 1 season which may not appeal to teams like McLaren if they lose Norris or Piastri to Mercedes. Mercedes might see him as a safe holding option whilst they assess Andrea Kimi Antonelli though.

The team might not be called Audi until 2026, but they will have a majority shareholding in Sauber by the end of this year. There's no reason why they won't want to put Carlos in the car in '25 to give him a year to integrate within the team before the big push as Audi in '26.

[ralphrj]

vaud said:

I have a horrible feeling that the answer might be "not F1" when all of the musical chairs finally get resolved.

I would consider that the least likely result unless, for some reason, Sainz fancied taking a sabbatical.

Currently the only teams with no seats available for 2025 are Ferrari and McLaren and there is potential for a seat at McLaren to become available if Norris or Piastri somehow (buy out, exit clause etc.) end up in the Mercedes.

Red Bull have one seat available with Max in the other. Mercedes have one seat available with George in the other. Every other seat is currently unfilled.

You could presume that the remaining Red Bull seat and both VCA RB seats will be taken by drivers on the Red Bull roster.

If Sainz is destined for Audi in 2026 then teams like Mercedes, Aston Martin and Alpine may not be interested in a 1 year deal unless they specifically need someone to fill a 1 year gap until a junior driver comes up from F2 or one of Norris, Piastri, Leclerc or Verstappen is planning to move to them in 2026.

Which still leaves Williams, Haas and Sauber - the last of which everyone assumes Sainz is going to in 2026. None of these may be his preferred option for 2025 but I think the only reason none of those would offer him a drive is if he held out for too much money.

[ralphrj]

thegreenhell said:

The team might not be called Audi until 2026, but they will have a majority shareholding in Sauber by the end of this year. There's no reason why they won't want to put Carlos in the car in '25 to give him a year to integrate within the team before the big push as Audi in '26.

Totally agree, I think this is the most likely option.

[Time4another]

Sainz to Merc doesn't sound bad but a driver line up of Russell and Sainz ain't exactly headline. Big season to see if Russell really steps up. I think he'll come up a little short though.

Sainz to Redbull would be good also. Think from his time at Ferrari he's acustomed to not being number 1. He's mature enough to be comfortable with it. He'd be an upgrade on Perez for me. Not sure if he would want to go back to RB though.

Other than those 2 it would have to be something from left field like Audi or Aston if Alonso jumps ship.

[Evercross]

I'm absolutely not convinced with this Sainz to Audi talk (eve if they are saying they want him).

That would be for a payday rather than any medium-term success prospects. I seriously doubt that big manufacturer throwing money at a team with no history of success is ever a winning thing.

I'm thinking Stewart-Ford-Jaguar (took the ejection of Ford and the introduction of A. Newey to make it Red Bull)

Toyota (no comment!)

Mercedes was of course Brawn, which was really the best of Honda once the corporates went away.

I'm not seeing VAG's involvement in Sauber being anything more than a big waste of money TBH.

Still think McLaren is Sainz's best hope as that is a team with a history of success and a proven ability to progress up the grid. He's been there before and it looks like they are already making the moves to get him to come back.