Silly season 2024-2025

[TeamKoolGreen]

Max is already under pressure, now the car advantage has disappeared. He won’t want a teammate adding more pressure, so this is no surprise.

I would have said it’s disappointing for the fans/sport, but we could now be past that point of RB domination during this reg, and Perez staying at RB and being uncompetitive, actually doesn’t matter anymore. The fight is coming from elsewhere now.

I wouldn't be in Horner's place right now. On one hand, Perez is a known quantity, on the other he's on another slump it seems. Very likely Canada performance will have a big impact.

No one can guarantee that the replacement will do much better in no time (even Sainz), while Perez might even completely drop all motivation and just cruise for the rest of the season before retirement. Replacing Perez mid season 2024 would be the worst choice.

Sainz has been winning races in an inferior car that Perez is supposed to be winning. The record is there

[Sidewinder]

Antonelli I'm not sure it is a good idea to put him in Mercedes from scratch... but if Mercedes is still P4 next year, maybe could be done.

Williams are keen on a more experienced second driver like Bottas or Sainz.

False, it's Mercedes wanting to put Antonelli straight in. Williams would have been more than happy to take him.

[zeph]

Ocon is out at Alpine, Perez stays with RBR for another season, so Sainz is yet without a drive.

Surely Verstappen’s and Sainz’ sordid history as teammates at STR is a factor in RBR’s decision. What a shame.

[PlatinumZealot]

The sainz of Carlos getting a winning seat are looking slim thanks to Carlos Slim. So RedBull is out. But he has a good chance if he sainz with Mercedes one year deal instead of hoping for two years.

[JordanMugen]

Should Alpine do a shootout between Doohan, Martin and Mini to decide their second driver, or are they already sure Doohan is their best Alpine junior choice?

Or will Alpine choose an experienced driver like Sainz, Bottas or Magnussen, or a driver with superb commercial attributes like Zhou?

IMO, having dismissed Ocon (even though Ocon is pretty fast & previously backed by Alpine with a 3 year deal ), Sainz would be the best choice assuming Sainz is interested in driving for the slick French national team.

[dren]

I'm reading Perez got a two year deal?

[codetower]

The problem for Sainz is Mercedes is still hopelessly holding out for Max. RB were probably never really interested in Sainz, they were just using him as even more leverage to get Perez on the cheap, and keep him honest. No seats at McLaren, No seats at VCARB... he really has no good options left. His best remaining option is Williams, really.

[BanMeToo]

^ yea but Mercedes need a driver eventually

[codetower]

I agree, and I think Mercedes would be a great fit for both Merc and Sainz, but they also have Antonelli that they want to bring up. If I were Toto, Id offer Carlos a 2 year deal, and negotiate a seat for Antonelli in the Williams. I think Sainz would pare well alongside Russel, and it would give Mercedes options after 2026.

[JordanMugen]

His best remaining option is Williams, really.

But Wiliams is not a works team, whereas Alpine-Renault and Sauber-Ferrari (Audi) are works teams?

Sainz could do a lot worse than driving for the Alpine works team (again)! Alpine-Renault have the ambition to win the championships.

While Alpine's development from 2018 to 2024 has not yielded the success they may have hoped for -- who knows, 6-7 more years of development might do the trick and Alpine-Renault might be the leading car in 2031?

[Chuckjr]

I agree, and I think Mercedes would be a great fit for both Merc and Sainz, but they also have Antonelli that they want to bring up. If I were Toto, Id offer Carlos a 2 year deal, and negotiate a seat for Antonelli in the Williams. I think Sainz would pare well alongside Russel, and it would give Mercedes options after 2026.

100%

[deadhead]

You would think all the top teams would be fighting over to sign a top driver like Sainz?

I don’t think Norris or Russel will have the same problem if they were in Sainz’s position.

[DGP123]

You would think all the top teams would be fighting over to sign a top driver like Sainz?

The f1 bosses don’t rate him, as highly as some do on here. He’s not an elite level driver, never has been.

[ME4ME]

But Wiliams is not a works team, whereas Alpine-Renault and Sauber-Ferrari (Audi) are works teams?

Sainz could do a lot worse than driving for the Alpine works team (again)! Alpine-Renault have the ambition to win the championships.

While Alpine's development from 2018 to 2024 has not yielded the success they may have hoped for -- who knows, 6-7 more years of development might do the trick and Alpine-Renault might be the leading car in 2031?

"Works team" really means nothing anymore. It's a term from the past.

[monkeyboy1976]

But Wiliams is not a works team, whereas Alpine-Renault and Sauber-Ferrari (Audi) are works teams?

Sainz could do a lot worse than driving for the Alpine works team (again)! Alpine-Renault have the ambition to win the championships.

While Alpine's development from 2018 to 2024 has not yielded the success they may have hoped for -- who knows, 6-7 more years of development might do the trick and Alpine-Renault might be the leading car in 2031?

"Works team" really means nothing anymore. It's a term from the past.

Very true! Red Bull is not a works team and never has been