66 replies to this topic

[midgrid]

Sainz has been replaced at Ferrari for 2025 by Lewis Hamilton. Where will he end up?

[FNG]

Sainz to AM Alonso to Merc. 

[RedRabbit]

Sainz to AM Alonso to Merc.

Alonso won't leave AM, especially for Merc.

Sainz probably to Audi

[Cliff]

RB

[ConsiderAndGo]

My monies on RedBull.

Perez out.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 01 February 2024 - 19:39.

[Spillage]

He would be a good replacement for Perez if Perez is off it again this year. Quick enough to win races but not quite quick enough to seriously threaten Max. If not, Mercedes could do a lot worse. Otherwise it's hard to see him getting a competitive seat.

[SCUDmissile]

Should go to red bull he's better then Perez

[Claudius]

Carlos will have a hard time in RB if he lands there.
Max will probably beat him and Carlos doesn’t want to play the second fiddle.

[RacingFan10]

Sauber-Audi would be the obvious choice. His father has strong ties with Audi.

[Sonic2k]

my bet is the stake kick sauber estrella galicia audi f1 team

[FNG]

Alonso won't leave AM, especially for Merc.

Sainz probably to Audi

 

Why not? It's a much better bet. I personally think the 2023 season was a one off for AM. And for Stroll Sr this will be welcome as his son will no longer be getting a hiding from Alonso

[DW46]

my bet is the BMW stake kick Alfa Romeo sauber estrella galicia audi Ferrari f1 team

[Coral]

Hopefully RB. I can't wait to see the back of Perez.

[TomNokoe]

Maybe I am reading too much into it, but his statement says "news about my future will be announced in due course". The Spanish translation is similar, too. I would only use this phrase if my future was close to, or already, decided, which suggests it's not Mercedes because they wouldn't have been negotiating with Sainz considering they had no idea Lewis was leaving.

 

I think Sainz left the Red Bull family for a reason and doesn't want to go back. I also think it's too much of a risk for Helmut and Horner considering they have a subservient Ricciardo ready and waiting.

 

Perhaps there is a small chance at Aston Martin to replace Alonso, but this doesn't really fit in my mind.

 

So presumably it is Sauber-Audi for a reunion with Seidl. I know Sauber are way behind Aston Martin, but I think their future potential is quite similar, and this gives Sainz far more security. Plus, there is an emotional connection that I feel is important to him. He is a very perceptive man.

Edited by TomNokoe, 01 February 2024 - 20:17.

[ARTGP]

RB

[garoidb]

RB

 

Which one?

[STRFerrari4Ever]

I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes to Red Bull in all honesty, I know the smart money would be on Audi in preparation for 2026 onwards but Red Bull’s options at the moment are Perez, Ricciardo and Lawson. I think Sainz would be seen as a more reliable second driver than any of those others I mentioned.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Red Bull would be dumb not to snap him up and replace Perez.

[Clatter]

Why not? It's a much better bet. I personally think the 2023 season was a one off for AM. And for Stroll Sr this will be welcome as his son will no longer be getting a hiding from Alonso

 

Getting a hiding from Sainz will look better?

[SparkPlug86]

I think he might end up at Alpine.

[BertoC]

Audi. Sainz sr. drives there and Seidl and Key love him from the Mclaren days.

Edited by BertoC, 01 February 2024 - 20:39.

[FNG]

Getting a hiding from Sainz will look better?

 

Considerably. He will simply get beat, not destroyed :-) But point taken

[Deeq]

Mercedes if he got any sense..or RB if its available (Perez out & RB wants him back) & he is got the guts*!

*) I think he will be extremely foolish not to take such an opportunity if presented.

[messy]

Audi, I reckon - but I’d say both Mercedes and Red Bull would be daft not to consider him too.

He’ll be fine, don’t feel sorry for him.

[lewislorenzo]

RB

[JL14]

Voted Stake/Sauber.

 

But I can also see him going to Alpine if Toto goes for Ocon at Merc (as Ocon mentioned last year, he still connected to Merc in a way)

[STIGG]

RB

 

Visa CashApp RB or Red Bull RB?

[MikeTekRacing]

Hopefully RB. I can't wait to see the back of Perez.

still hurting, I see. 

 

Let the hate flow through you )

[Alfisti]

Why on earth would Sainz go to Audi? That's a 5 year project, at best. 

[FNG]

Why on earth would Sainz go to Audi? That's a 5 year project, at best. 

 

Exactly. Audi will be no where for the first few years.

[Gravelngrass]

Poll is wrong. He can’t go to Audi in 2025 because Audi will enter F1 in 2026.
Having said that, it’s a bet I would place being in his situation. Maybe a 1 year deal, best would be Mercedes but Aston would be ok too (not RB, he’s been beaten by Ves already).

Some people seem to be assuming that Ham will leave Merc because they are no good, but it’s the No. 2 car as things stand so it could very well be that the Merc turns out a better car than the Ferrari in 2025 (and wouldn’t that be a cracker)…

Edited by Gravelngrass, 01 February 2024 - 22:57.

[aportinga]

Carlos will have a hard time in RB if he lands there.
Max will probably beat him and Carlos doesn’t want to play the second fiddle.

 

But finishing bottom 10 for the next 3 years is better?

 

At least at RB he can laugh as he passes the guy who replaced him and CL during every race. Maybe even be WDC runner up for 2 or 3 seasons.

 

Plus if RB performs well over the next 2 seasons he could be seen as bringing in valuable experience to Audi in 2026/2027.

Edited by aportinga, 01 February 2024 - 22:14.

[Alfisti]

This is black and white to me, Sainz does everything he can to get that merc drive, EVERYTHING. Nothing else comes close unless it is Red Bull but Verstappen is a real thorn. 

[Quickshifter]

Redbull do not want any trouble. They want a designated wing man and would like to steer clear of Sainz. Mercedes wouldn't want to be seen as lapping up what Ferrari discarded so i really doubt Toto would be looking at Sainz. McLaren have an excellent young driver pairing both of whom are quicker and have a higher ceiling than Sainz plus they have signed them up on a multi year deal. Aston Martin is possible if Alonso chooses to retire else it would be Alpine or Sauber for him.

Edited by Quickshifter, 01 February 2024 - 22:18.

[Claudius]

But finishing bottom 10 for the next 3 years is better?

At least at RB he can laugh as he passes the guy who replaced him and CL during every race. Maybe even be WDC runner up for 2 or 3 seasons.

Plus if RB performs well over the next 2 seasons he could be seen as bringing in valuable experience to Audi in 2026/2027.

I think he will try some other alternatives first. Like Merc.

[prty]

McLaren have an excellent young driver pairing both of whom are quicker and have a higher ceiling than Sainz

While one of them was beaten two years in a row by Sainz

[Quickshifter]

While one of them was beaten two years in a row by Sainz

Team principals in their latest post season review rated Lando above Sainz. So is Lando the same driver he was 3 years ago?Take a poll on this very forum and see who is “currently“ rated as a faster driver. Lando would be hands down first option of Mercedes if he was free. Horner and Helmut have tried to sign him.

Edited by Quickshifter, 01 February 2024 - 22:35.

[Alfisti]

Yeah I think Lando has progressed and likely the quicker but man, Sainz is always there and thereabouts. 

[jonpollak]

Carlos has such schitt luck last year..
I hope it’s somewhere good.
Jp

[HP]

All I will say for a conclusion: Sainz overplayed his cards. Probably because he felt he did a better job at Ferrari than Leclerc. However Ferrari needs drivers of the ilk of Hamilton and Leclerc to get to the front. So for Sainz it will be hard to comeback. If he does however come back in a good team, then he plays his cards very well.

 

And as an after thought. In recent F1 history, which driver retired (or was retired) from Ferrari and did better afterwards? Though place to start recovering any career as F1 driver.

[cyclist]

I have seen quite a few nice comments on Sainz from Helmut Marko, that he was very good but only had the bad luck that he was up against Max and he got the drive at Red Bull. I imagine the dynamic will be very different now, as they are both proven drivers and not rookies fighting for a promotion. Red Bull will likely provide him a race winning car for 25, beyond that is anyones guess. I believe it is his best chance of being at the front, as Mercedes still seems to be rather lost. He could still have a pre contract for Audi to switch when they had their first years of pain.

[Quickshifter]

Yeah I think Lando has progressed and likely the quicker but man, Sainz is always there and thereabouts.

Not saying Sainz is average. He is basically somewhere in between that first and second tier right now.

Edited by Quickshifter, 01 February 2024 - 22:39.

[Alfisti]

Not saying Sainz is average. He is basically somewhere in between that first and second tier right now.

So he is VERY useful, lots of really mediocre experienced drivers on the grid. 

[ARTGP]

All I will say for a conclusion: Sainz overplayed his cards. 

 

What cards are there to play when the other candidate for your seat is a 7x WDC  .  Sainz was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many drivers on this grid would get dropped to have Hamilton. 

Edited by ARTGP, 01 February 2024 - 22:47.

[HP]

While one of them was beaten two years in a row by Sainz

I think there is more to it than beating the teammate. Sainz is not the guy that brings the team forward overall IMO. He can do his part to bring a team forward, but it seems the advance is just for him mostly and not the team. That's at least the vibe I get from him. In a sense he is a lesser clone of Alonso, but without coming near to Alonso's skills and statistics. I'd like Sainz to become his own force in F1, but doubt that he ever will be as good.

[SenorSjon]

Carlos will have a hard time in RB if he lands there.
Max will probably beat him and Carlos doesn’t want to play the second fiddle.

The RB seat is the hardest seat in town, but probably also the biggest opportunity to win races and a WDC when the stars align. The quarrel was between the families, not the drivers. Nowadays, both are established drivers, so no need the push sons in better seats anymore.

[SenorSjon]

I think there is more to it than beating the teammate. Sainz is not the guy that brings the team forward overall IMO. He can do his part to bring a team forward, but it seems the advance is just for him mostly and not the team. That's at least the vibe I get from him. In a sense he is a lesser clone of Alonso, but without coming near to Alonso's skills and statistics. I'd like Sainz to become his own force in F1, but doubt that he ever will be as good.

He saved the Ferrari strategy departments quite often by giving them advice during races.

[baddog]

RB would be nuts not to go for him I think.

[HP]

What cards are there to play when the other candidate for your seat is a 7x WDC  .  Sainz was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many drivers on this grid would get dropped to have Hamilton. 

True, he lost his seat because he did not have the cards needed to exercise a good bluff. That's on thing that I noticed with Sainz. He is too obviously honest about his abilities. That's not good for any driver in itself. In terms of team Ferrari: Has anything changed since Gilles Villeneuve? I knew from the beginning that the biggest challenge Sainz was facing at Maranello is not his driving, but being able to get the team to truly invest into him.

 

As I stated above, I agree with you on the point on Hamilton. Did you consider the case in light of Leclerc and Sainz? Why was Leclerc able to renew his contract, while I think the negotiation with Hamilton started before they confirmed Leclerc. Again, Sainz IMO overplaying the cards. Sainz lacks severly in that department. There are good reasons why Sainz and Leclerc both could point to being unlucky last season. It would be good for Sainz to study and learn what Leclerc made better in this situation.

 

We all know Sainz made an amicable declaration to do good in 2024 for Ferrari. But how much support will he have from Ferrari? Not as much as if he were extending the contract with them. What would his biggest hero figure, Alsono, have done. He'll rip his contract for 2024 and go to another team no matter the consequences. That kind of resolution is, for better or worse, missing from Sainz so far.

[ANF]

Mercedes is his best option if he wants to become a world champion. He will never beat Verstappen at Red Bull, Aston Martin probably reached their peak early last season, and Sauber–Audi must be regarded as a very risky project where he would be lucky to score some points.

 

Toto Wolff was reportedly in Milan today, a two-hour drive from Maranello. Maybe he was there shopping, or maybe he was there for contract negotiations?