Sainz Struggles for Balance in 2025 Team Pick

Carlos Sainz faces a tough decision for 2025, balancing risk and opportunity in his next Formula 1 team selection.

Carlos Sainz admits that deciding on his next Formula 1 team is “not easy,” and he acknowledges he is currently “playing a dangerous game.”

Initially upset about being left out of Ferrari’s plans for 2025 and beyond, he now states, “I obviously understand the decision.”

“The opportunity to sign a seven-time world champion and what it can bring to the team is appealing. That’s why, when I thought about it, it didn’t hurt as much.”

“If someone has to replace me, I’d rather it be him.”

However, Sainz confesses he doesn’t truly think Lewis Hamilton is better than him.

“Honestly, I don’t think so. Yet, if you ask the other 18 drivers, they would say the same thing.”

The teams he is currently negotiating with, and some of the drivers awaiting his decision, are growing impatient due to the length of the process.

Williams’ boss, James Vowles, for instance, is not willing to wait much longer for Sainz. He wants a decision before the summer break, within the week following the Belgian GP at the latest.

“Williams is a super iconic Formula 1 team,” says Sainz.

“Yes, it’s one of the few teams I haven’t joined yet – Red Bull Racing and Mercedes too, there are two or three teams I haven’t visited yet and might go to in the future, I don’t know when to be honest.”

“The future still seems quite uncertain, even I don’t know, to give you an idea. What I do know is that I’ve been part of five different teams over these ten years, and I have very good memories of each team I’ve been in, and I know that if the opportunity arises to return to any of these teams, then I could go back.”

One of those teams is Alpine F1, formerly Renault, which has made Sainz a solid offer for 2025 and beyond. It appears he has already turned down Sauber / Audi F1.

He admits that making his decision is so challenging because the most competitive teams may only offer shorter contracts—while ambitious projects that are currently less competitive can provide longer ones.

“I would say both are equally important. It’s just as crucial to have a competitive car as soon as possible and to find a project that gives me stability and motivation to see that it has the potential for me to lead this team to become world champions one day.”

“I’m trying to find a balance between the best of both worlds, and that’s why it’s not easy, because it’s a very important decision for my sports career, for my future, and that’s why the decision takes so much time, also considering that things change every day.”

There’s almost no doubt that Sainz’s “Plan A” is to wait just long enough for a seat to open up in a top team—like Mercedes F1 or Red Bull.

“Waiting is inevitably a dangerous game but yes, these two teams also have current uncertainties about their seats and one does not want to decide too quickly and miss an opportunity.”

“A team (Red Bull, editor’s note) might reconsider things soon, so let’s see what happens on that front.”

1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve sees a potential opportunity for Sainz in this last team since the Perez case will be reviewed Monday, after Spa.

“In the Red Bull family, there is currently no suitable replacement for Sergio Perez.”

“Yuki Tsunoda is still an unstable driver, a bit more controlled than in the past, but he’s still inconsistent. Liam Lawson doesn’t have the experience to replace him—we don’t know if he can make that step.”

“My best bet for replacing Perez is Carlos Sainz.”