Carlos Sainz still has some admirers among the top teams in F1. The Madrid-born driver, in his first season with Williams after leaving Ferrari, is increasingly gaining confidence with his new car. His goal, as he told us in Jeddah, is to fight for the title with the Grove-based team. However, in a driver market that is sometimes unpredictable, it wouldn’t be unthinkable to see him elsewhere soon.
The paddock moves to Miami, the venue of the sixth Grand Prix of the season. The European leg of the calendar is approaching – after this first of three U.S. rounds, Formula 1 will finally head to Italy, at Imola, before moving on to Monaco and Barcelona – and it’s now possible to draw an initial assessment. Among rookies and team changes, one driver seems to be quickly finding his footing.
After a few too many missteps, Carlos Sainz shines again in Saudi Arabia. His eighth-place finish marks his second points finish of the season, ahead of teammate Alexander Albon. Growing increasingly comfortable under James Vowles’ leadership, the Spaniard describes the project as “long-term,” with an eye on 2026 and 2027. But what if an irresistible offer were to come in?
Zak Brown: “Sainz? I have his phone number”
McLaren is very happy with its current driver pairing. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri represent a solid foundation for the team’s future, already crowned Constructors’ Champions last season. However, there’s no guarantee the relationship between the two will ensure productive collaboration in the coming years. If something were to go wrong, Woking already has an alternative in mind.
“If we had an open seat, I would absolutely consider Carlos [Sainz],” Zak Brown told Marca. “But for now, we have Lando and Oscar under contract. If the situation were to change for any reason… I have his number in my contacts!”
Car number 55 has already raced for McLaren for two seasons, in 2019 and 2020. With the team, he claimed his first podium, finishing third in Brazil during his debut season with them. The following year, he improved on that result, finishing second at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza – a race surprisingly won by Pierre Gasly in an AlphaTauri.
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