During Ferrari’s launch last week, Carlos Sainz looked at ease answering a variety of questions about Lewis Hamilton taking over as Ferrari’s driver in 2025 and what he planned to do next. This is because, given his experience and present form, the Spaniard, an F1 race winner twice, will be aware that he has many options available to him elsewhere on the grid and is currently one of the most sought-after racers.

When a team you love to compete for decides not to keep you on, it can be disheartening, particularly if you feel like you’ve performed admirably throughout the three seasons you’ve been with them.

But being usurped by the best driver of this generation and knowing that numerous teams are rumored to have already been vying for his signature make it a little easier to take (Ferrari would have almost certainly re-signed him had longtime target Hamilton not been available).

All eight of the teams with open seats in 2025—Mercedes, Aston Martin, Williams, RB, Sauber, and Haas—can reasonably be considered potential landing locations. Never has there been a better opportunity to get lost on the grid and need a ride than right now.

Carlos Sainz on the “surprise” of the Hamilton announcement, but his main goal is to win in 2024.

Sainz is taking his time to make a decision in light of this. The Spaniard will know that he will ultimately have a decent seat no matter what happens.

What kind of project does he desire is what needs to be taken into account. Is it one that, like Red Bull, Mercedes, or Aston Martin, will probably provide him a car to compete for podiums and wins very immediately? Or is it one that will probably need some time to develop but gives him the chance to head the group and mentor people like Alpine, Williams, RB, Sauber, and Haas as they move up the standings?

During our conversation last week, he acknowledged that he had been performing well lately. “I am aware that there will be plenty of chances in the future to play for other teams and maintain my competitiveness.

It’s time to perform a thorough analysis, hear from and listen to everyone for a little while, and make sure I give myself enough time to figure out exactly what I want to accomplish with my life and where I want to spend the next, perhaps, three or four years of my career.

“This year, I’ll be turning 30, which means I’m probably close to peak performance. To find out where I can go, I want to make sure I give myself some time to reflect and hear from a few people.”

A Sainz-Mercedes partnership?

Although having options might be advantageous, they can also cause problems. This is particularly true in light of upcoming regulations that could upend the competitive hierarchy of the sport in 2026. These laws call for the use of only sustainable fuels in power units and a heavy reliance on battery power.

Sainz and his management team’s task will be to determine which team will respond to those the best.

With what Power Unit will the winner be? Is there a reliable fuel source for the team? What is their level of financial influence? To what extent is the operation investing money? Are they making infrastructure stronger? Do they have a modernized wind tunnel and simulator? What is their long-range strategy?

It would make perfect sense for Mercedes and Sainz to collaborate. They will receive a race-winning driver who is extremely strong with feedback, relentlessly consistent, and gets along well with every member of his crew. Sainz would receive a vehicle that will enable him to stay competitive, as well as an organization with top-notch resources and the financial strength to compete at the forefront.

But Mercedes needs to figure out a strategy for its young driver, Kimi Antonelli. Would they enter him in Williams the following year and then Mercedes the year after if he performs well this year?

If that’s the case, their ticket would only be available for a year, which Sainz will find unacceptable. Is Antonelli going to be brought in for 2027 or 2028, so that he may get additional experience in Formula Two or at a different team, like as Williams, before being promoted to Mercedes? For two or three years, that would imply they would need a teammate for George Russell, which would make the project far more interesting to Sainz and others.

If one had to leave to make room for Antonelli, you would have thought Sainz would have backed himself to defeat Russell and force manager Toto Wolff to think about keeping the Spaniard instead of the Briton.

Options across the grid

Another excellent choice is an Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso is 42 years old, and if billionaire Lawrence Stroll wants to keep the team moving forward favorably for the foreseeable future, he will need to find a strong, reliable, and seasoned driver who can lead a team over the long haul. Sainz would be a good choice.

However, Williams is thought to be a huge fan of Sainz. They present the Spaniard with an opportunity to join a train that is gaining significant traction and has ample resources in the future. Of course, there is a risk involved, but there may also be rewards.

Next is Sauber, which in 2026 will join Audi’s works team. Having spent the last three years competing for the German automaker in the Dakar Rally, Carlos Sainz Sr. has strong ties to the incoming Audi and is aware of how strong of a motorsport organization they are. Sainz also knows their chief, Andreas Seidl, having worked with him for two years at McLaren.

Red Bull and RB are possibilities, as Sainz is leaving the Red Bull family amicably after completing their youth program. Alpine may also be a possibility if Sainz wants to rejoin a team he is familiar with from his time racing for them under the Renault brand.

Thus, Sainz and his group will have plenty to consider over the coming days, weeks, and months.