Mercedes don’t look any closer to settling on a driver to replace Lewis Hamilton at the end of this year, but it seems like you can rule Carlos Sainz out of contending for the vacant seat.
That is according Craig Slater of Sky Sports, who reported on Thursday that the three-time Formula One winner is expected to look elsewhere given the timetable Mercedes is working with as it searches for Hamilton’s replacement.
Slater reported that Sainz “wants his contract situation sorted in the next few weeks rather than months” and accordingly is not expected to have any more interest in the opportunity at Mercedes.
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“Why isn’t Carlos Sainz going to Mercedes? That conversation has already been had as I understand it and the timescale Mercedes are working towards in terms of making their decision doesn’t fit with what Carlos Sainz wants himself,” Slater said.
Which begs the question, if Sainz is out of the running, who else is still interested and likely to be the leading contender to replace Hamilton?
Well, of course Mercedes is keen on luring Max Verstappen away from Red Bull, although if that is not possible Slater reported his “understanding” is Kimi Antonelli will have the seat next year.
Antonelli is only 17 years old and was signed to Mercedes’ junior program in 2019, going on to win the Italian and German F4 championships in his rookie campaign in 2022 while also adding the Formula Regional Middle East and European titles to his growing list of achievements in 2023.
The 17-year-old is currently competing in the F2 with Prema Racing and Slater noted there is the “potential” Antonelli could find himself racing in the F1 later this year.
“That means you can discount some of the other names mentioned,” Slater said.
“Sebastian Vettel, Esteban Ocon, even Valtteri Bottas. Kimi Antonelli only turns 18 in August but might he even be in F1 this year? There’s that potential.
“However, he is in a position if Mercedes cannot get Verstappen to be driving alongside George Russell in 2025. That one probably not decided until August or September.”
Again, highlighting why Sainz is not interested as he looks to sort out his future sooner than later.
Slater also gave an update on what his expectations are at Red Bull, taking Verstappen at his word and predicting he will stay at the team until 2028.
As for teammate Sergio Perez’s vacant seat, Slater noted the reason Sainz is yet to accept a “big money offer” from Sauber-Audi is that he is “holding out potentially for that Red Bull seat”.
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“But it’s been hot and cold, hot and cold, in terms of the signals he’s been getting from Red Bull,” Slater added.
“Is it in the balance? Interestingly I have heard that the point for Sainz’s people is not Helmut Marko anymore, it’s now Christian Horner. That could be good news for Perez.
“Perez has been supportive of Christian Horner during all of his issues. If you had to force me to put someone in that seat alongside Verstappen it would be Perez.”
Source Agencies
