Toto Wolff, who has yet to make an official announcement, is looking for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is expected to join Ferrari next year.
At this point, it seems that Max Verstappen, amid the current turmoil within Red Bull, is the leading candidate that Wolff is patiently considering.
However, talks with Carlos Sainz, who will soon be part of the strategy with Ferrari, have reportedly taken a position and have even entered a complex stage.
On Tuesday, Sainz, who has been doing well at the age of 29 lately, told F1’s official website that his long-term career “also depends on other people, on other groups, on what they do. “
Meanwhile, Toto Wolff’s 17-year-old protégé Kimi Antonelli has embarked on a full programme of older Mercedes F1 cars, under strict regulations.
A new report in the Kolner Express suggests Wolff is considering Esteban Ocon, another driver he manages, as an alternative option if Verstappen remains at Red Bull. Wolff said: “We could take a young driver and give him the opportunity to fight for wins without too much pressure. Or put an experienced driver in the car who can help us get out of our current situation. “
There are also rumours that Sainz could sign with Audi’s Sauber team on a long-term contract, with Nico Hulkenberg also seen as a more likely option.
According to veteran F1 journalist Roger Benoit in Blick, Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl is aware that “the new drivers are”. Benoit also noted: “(Valtteri) Bottas and (Guanyu) Zhou are a thing of the past. Now there’s a new motivation in the cockpit. The most unwavering Sauber enthusiasts also agree on this. “
Williams appears to be another conceivable destination for Sainz, although he himself has expressed concerns about his competitiveness, saying: “I don’t want to be stuck in midfield or more in 2025. “
Mercedes therefore remains a potentially optimal pick for Sainz in 2025, reports implying that Wolff could first and foremost extend just a one-year contract, with an option to renew for the new era coming in 2026.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher spoke to Sky Deutschland about the difficult situations Wolff is facing: “His visiting teams, especially McLaren, are beating him and that’s the worst thing that can happen to him. He added: “His main driving force is leaving them because he’s no longer on the team. It’s a big challenge for Toto. I’ve got to make sure he’s still warm as a team so that the really smart driving forces have to happen there.
Schumacher commented extra on Mercedes’ condition, saying: “Mercedes is in trouble at the moment” and “You can see it in Toto’s reactions in the media. I appreciate it and I like it, but what we have now is a catastrophe. “