Where Carlos Sainz will drive next season has been and continues to be one of F1's great unanswered questions this year.
In the midst of a strong start to the current campaign, in the wake of finding out his seat at Ferrari was going to Lewis Hamilton, many had hoped and suggested he should find a home with a top team.
With McLaren out the question, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri already tied in, and Aston Martin likely to gun for Fernando Alonso, which it successfully did, Mercedes and Red Bull seemed the most likely destinations - if the 29-year-old were to bag a top drive.
However, that did not transpire. Red Bull opted to re-up with Sergio Perez and Mercedes has made it clear it wants to focus on its future - Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Joining Stake F1, ahead of its transition to Audi in 2026, has long been the front-runner in the Sainz sweepstakes - even before his Ferrari exit was confirmed - and it remains very much in the picture. Although, there is clearly something holding Sainz back from what is a large and ambitious project.
There are family ties to the German marque through his father, Carlos Sainz Sr., but there are question marks over how long it will take the former Sauber team to get up to speed.
As such, F1 fans feel that the Spaniard's future is best spent with the other option, which has emerged as a serious contender for his signature in recent weeks - Williams.
Furthermore, with team principal James Vowles being more than open with the fact Sainz is the Grove-based outfit's number one target, over half of all respondents in a recent RacingNew365 poll felt teaming up with Alexander Albon was his best way forward for the three-time race winner.
Check out the full results to the latest RacingNews365 poll below.
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