SUMMARY
- Carlos Sainz is all set to revive the Formula 1 drivers' market amid ongoing negotiations with Ferrari.
- The Spaniard's contract is bound to expire following the 2024 F1 season.
Since the start of 2024, all eyes have been etched on Scuderia Ferrari, as the Italian outfit remained rather mute about their future with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. And eavesdropping into their negotiations were the likes of Red Bull Racing, Aston Martin, and possibly Mercedes. Unsurprisingly, the situation was a ticking time bomb for Ferrari, especially with their Monaco-born hero being eyed by some of the greatest F1 teams.
However, amidst the echoing rumors, Fred Vasseur and Co. managed to agree upon a contract extension with Leclerc, destroying their rivals’ hopes. Unfortunately, despite the recent Leclerc announcement, Ferrari is far from heaving a sigh of relief, especially with Sainz threatening to drop out of the team beyond 2024.
According to reports, Sainz and Ferrari have encountered disagreements in their negotiation, causing a delay in the much-anticipated announcement. What’s more, much like in Leclerc’s case, Sainz, too, has seemingly attracted rival teams’ attention; the two rumored teams being Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin.
🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA: Red Bull y Aston Martin se han fijado en Carlos Sainz de cara a 2025.
👉 Según informa prensa italiana, si el madrileño no renueva con Ferrari, tiene las puertas abiertas de Red Bull para sustituir a Checo Pérez, y Aston Martin.
👉 En Sauber (Audi en 2026) no… pic.twitter.com/skTTJJMsgZ
— Fórmula Directa (@FormulaDirecta) January 29, 2024
According to a Spanish podcast host, Red Bull and Aston Martin could be in the running for Sainz if he chooses not to extend his contract with the Maranello outfit.
Why would Aston Martin & Red Bull want Carlos Sainz?
In Red Bull’s case, the team needs an experienced driver to replace Sergio Perez, who is possibly on his last dance with Red Bull. The Mexican’s contract is set to expire by the end of 2024, and Red Bull Racing is hardly looking interested in extending their partnership.
At Aston Martin, the situation is far more complicated. While Fernando Alonso has pretty much secured his seat for another two to three years, his teammate Lance Stroll is currently living on the edge. The sad part is it could get a lot worse for the Canadian, considering ARAMCO has finally gained power over Lawrence Stroll. The Saudi giants would want to replace Stroll with someone who can match Alonso’s performance.
At this point, Sainz looks like a more reasonable option for Aston Martin. But, how is this battle going to go down? While the odds are fairly stacked against Ferrari extending their contract with Sainz, there is still a minor possibility for the Madrid-born driver to seek a different challenge outside the Maranello camp. Vasseur recently acknowledged the deadline for ongoing talks with Sainz, and the cut-off date is very close.