The decision of Carlos Sainz regarding which Formula 1 team to join in 2025 has been postponed due to Alpine’s information that they may become customers of Mercedes engines. This has caused a delay in the final movements of the driver market, as Alpine, Williams, and Sauber/Audi are competing for Sainz’s services. Initially, Sainz’s options were narrowed down to Audi or Williams, but Alpine has emerged as a serious contender once again. The situation changed after Renault recruited Flavio Briatore as an executive consultant and started considering abandoning their own engine program. Alpine has informed Sainz that they are considering the possibility of becoming a customer team of Mercedes as a potential supplier. This has influenced Sainz’s decision-making process, as he is now interested in having a Mercedes engine for the new regulations in 2026. However, negotiations between Alpine and Mercedes are still in the early stages and may take a significant amount of time to be concluded.
If Alpine and Mercedes reach an agreement, this would raise questions about the Renault team and what specifically attracts Sainz to this combination. Becoming a customer would show that Renault is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, even if it means relying on someone else’s engine. It would also eliminate a significant cost for the F1 project and potentially secure its long-term future. However, the counterargument is that this would confirm Renault’s lack of confidence in their own engine project and demonstrate a lack of ambition. Additionally, if parting ways with Viry with a customer engine deal is a prelude to selling the team in the future, Sainz could be joining a team undergoing ownership changes.
The prolonged decision-making process is not ideal for Sainz or the other teams and drivers involved. Sainz was expecting to make his decision between the Canadian and Spanish GPs, but various factors, including his busy schedule with Ferrari and the change in position of Alpine, caused a delay. Sainz acknowledges the challenges and politics involved in negotiations within the sport and is cautious about trusting people’s words without questioning. He will carefully consider the short and long-term prospects of each team and the type of project he wants to be a part of. Sainz is likely to make his decision after the British Grand Prix, but he may not have all the details of Alpine’s offer for 2026 by then. To keep his options open with Williams or Audi, Sainz needs to make a decision as soon as possible.
