One-Year Stint at Mercedes? Sainz Should Go

Coulthard urges Carlos Sainz to seize a one-year opportunity with Mercedes F1, highlighting it as a pivotal move.

David Coulthard believes that if Carlos Sainz receives an offer from Mercedes F1, he should accept it even if the deal is only for one year. According to him, a driver of the current Ferrari resident’s caliber should not prioritize the length of the partnership, especially since the 2026 season offers no guarantees.

“In modern Formula 1, I would certainly choose—given his talent, his age, and everything else—the performance,” Coulthard stated on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “I would pick next year’s car which, in my opinion, will allow me to perform on the track.”

Coulthard noted that rumors about some teams’ preparations for 2026 ultimately mean nothing at this point, as it’s simply impossible to gauge who has got a handle on the new regulations until the season actually starts in just over 18 months.

“I wouldn’t think about 2026 because no one knows. Whatever the rumors, Mercedes has the best engine rumors, Red Bull might have a problem, etc. I saw a quote from Christian [Horner] this weekend, saying ‘the guy going to Ferrari must have seen.'”

“All this to say that no one really knows until the car is on the track. Indeed, if they really knew, at the highest level, all these teams would deliver the same car in terms of performance because they are all subject to the same regulations.”

Hamilton was “the problem” for Sainz

And the Scotsman confirmed that he would make this choice a priority, well before opting for a long-term contract with a smaller team: “Yes, if I had a one-year opportunity with a team that was winning Grands Prix, or looked like it was about to, 100%.”

“Because if you go there, assert yourself, and deliver results, they will want to keep you. I know you can say that Carlos was doing a good job, winning Grands Prix, and they didn’t want to keep him.”

“The problem is that a seven-time world champion wanted to go to Ferrari, and it was too good a marketing story, primarily because Ferrari’s only marketing is auto racing.”

“You will never see an advertisement on television, you will never see an advertisement in a magazine. They only advertise through motorsport, and already, Ferrari has gained a boost, and its stock price was boosted when Hamilton signed.”

“So, I think for Carlos, he needs to aim for performance. Look at Valtteri [Bottas], he was winning Grands Prix and wasn’t hindered alongside Lewis. He went to Sauber and has been anonymous since—not because he forgot how to drive. But the car simply does not allow you to show off.”