What would either Sainz or Merc stand to lose by this? Best option for both sides.
A year contract with an open 2 years available if Merc feel the same as I am leaning more and more that Antonell is not going to be the wunderkind after all.
If Antonelli does turn out to be what was expected, a nice cash sum for either him or Sainz to sit out a season, or I'm sure a lower team would like his services for a year while Merc decide, and Sainz has a run up to consider the Audi drive knowing a lot more about it.
Looks a no brainer for both to me