Carlos Sainz 'begins negotiations' with Mercedes over replacing Lewis Hamilton | 3HNF64X | 2024-03-14 16:08:01
'Negotiations have begun' between Carlos Sainz Jr. and Mercedes with the Ferrari driver aiming to take Sir Lewis Hamilton's seat in 2025.
Hamilton is leaving Mercedes after 11 years at the finish of the season to fulfill a boyhood dream of racing in Ferrari red.
That seismic move has left Sainz without a seat on the grid for 2025, although the two-time race winner stated he was 'calm' concerning the state of affairs and his representatives have been 'already working on the longer term'.
The Spaniard has lengthy been linked with a transfer to Sauber who're set to be taken over by Audi in 2026, while there was suggestion that he might successfully swap seats with Hamilton.
Mercedes have many, many choices, from 17-year-old wonderkid Andrea Kimi Antonelli to Max Verstappen who has been tipped to shockingly leave Red Bull amid the Christian Horner scandal.
Toto Wolff stated he was in no rush to pick a brand new driver, however Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport now report that the Silver Arrows boss was engaged in 'prolonged talks' with Sainz's entourage at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old's father Carlos Sainz Sr. and manager Carlos Orono have been noticed coming out of Mercedes hospitality in Jeddah last weekend.
It's stated that 'negotiations have begun' between the two events after Sainz's entourage spent a 'very long time' within the hospitality space where they 'spoke at length with Wolff'.
It must be famous that Sainz has previously played down switch speculation, saying that it is regular for his dad, a two-time World Rally champion, to be chatting with staff bosses.
'For those who noticed, my dad went to say hey to [Red Bull chief] Helmut Marko. You have to keep in mind he has an ideal relationship with him in the identical method we have now a great relationship with Toto,' he stated prior to the season opener in Bahrain.
'With everybody within the grid it's normal at this stage of the yr. But in addition, we haven't seen each other for three or 4 months or so you're going say hey to each other.'
Sainz himself missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after undergoing surgery for appendicitis, although he returned to the paddock on race day to help his workforce.
18-year-old Brit Oliver Bearman stepped in to take his place, impressing on his Formula 1 debut, but it isn't but recognized whether or not Sainz shall be again behind the wheel or the subsequent race in Australia on 24th March.
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