What is Sainz's best F1 option?

Carlos Sainz is a driver who still has a significant choice on his hands, one he has already delayed for several months. 

Ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the Spaniard is still yet to decide where he will race next season, following his departure from Ferrari at the end of the year. 

Sainz has known since the beginning of the current campaign that he needs a new home for next season, after Lewis Hamilton was signed by Ferrari on a multi-year contract.

Hamilton moving to Ferrari kickstarted a flurry of early silly season action, yet Sainz remains set on taking as long as he wants deciding his next move. 

The 29-year-old is hardly short of options, but which is the best one for him?

Audi/Stake F1

Since announcing its plans to enter F1 as a factory outfit in 2026, Audi has made its admiration of Sainz clear. 

Sainz has been linked to Audi for a considerable amount of time, a move his father would approve of, based on the fact Carlos Sainz Sr has driven for the German manufacturer in the Dakar rally since 2022 – he became the oldest winner of the race this year. 

Whilst there is the allure of going from one factory team to another, there are some significant risks for Sainz should he move to Audi. 

Firstly, Audi will not officially arrive in F1 until the new power unit regulations in 2026, meaning the Spaniard would find himself with the struggling Stake F1 for next season. 

The Hinwil-based outfit are the only team yet to score a point this year, and would likely result in Sainz enduring a campaign towards the back of the grid. 

There is also no guarantee that this will change when Audi join, as it is rare for a new power unit supplier to immediately find themselves at the front. At the age of 29, Sainz is entering his prime, being partnered with the ultra-experienced Nico Hulkenberg could also be tricky.

Hulkenberg has been exceptional for Haas this year and has a track record of performing in underperforming cars. Sainz, therefore, does have a chance of joining Audi/Stake F1 and not always being the star driver. 

Williams

Williams team principal James Vowles has made it abundantly clear that Sainz is the Grove-based outfit's lead option.

A month ago when it looked like Williams and Audi were Sainz's only options, it appeared that the British team was leading the race for his signature. Whilst Williams has endured a difficult season so far, its future does look bright. 

Under the leadership of the young Vowles, there is a clear upward trajectory taking place at the Mercedes customer outfit. 

The team boss has outlined his desire for two very strong drivers, something it has not really had since Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa in 2015. 

That was the last time Williams had both drivers secure a podium in a season, whilst its most recent rostrum came courtesy of George Russell in the controversial 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. 

Vowles clearly has a plan to get Williams closer to the front and through being a Mercedes customer outfit, it will likely get there in five years. If Sainz was to join, he would need to be with the team long-term to return to fighting for podiums and potentially even victories. 

On a short-term basis, it's another offer which will see Sainz fighting for nothing more than a couple of points in most races.

Alpine

As mentioned, Williams was looking like Sainz's best option, that was until Alpine threw its name into the hat. 

Alpine endured a horrific start to the year which saw the French team enter the campaign with an overweight car, which made the outfit become the initial backmarker. 

However, things are changing very quickly at Alpine, who now have a package scoring points on a regular basis. Whilst it is not big points, it is a step in the right direction. 

There has been a bizarre and noticeable improvement since the arrival of former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore, who has returned to Enstone as an executive advisor. 

Briatore has already been spotted in conversation with Sainz Sr, with an offer having since reportedly been made to his son.

Alpine is an interesting option because whilst it is a definite factory seat for next year, there have been reports that the French team could become a customer outfit from 2026. 

One of the manufacturers linked to supplying Alpine has been Mercedes, something Toto Wolff is "open-minded" about. The key with Alpine, is that the return of Briatore looks like a big bonus in Sainz's eyes. 

Mercedes

The real outside option is Mercedes, who it appeared a month or so ago were not an option for the Spanish driver. This is because of the team's teenage sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who most expected to be confirmed as Hamilton's replacement. 

However, Antonelli has not made the expected impression in his maiden F2 campaign, with the young Italian having conceded to feeling "pressure" from Mercedes. 

What does work in Antonelli's favour, is that he claimed his first victory in the junior category in Silverstone, where he mastered tricky conditions. Nevertheless, it has been pondered whether another season in F2 would benefit the young star. 

As of right now, a seat alongside George Russell is available at Mercedes. This would keep Sainz at the front for next season, based on the recent form of the Brackley-based outfit. 

The issue with a move to Mercedes is the likelihood that it would be a short-term deal, and possibly leave Sainz looking for another seat right before the new regulations are introduced. 

This in itself is risky, as most drivers this season are signing multi-year contracts, as all the teams prepare themselves for the new regulations.