168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz’s incredible comeback victory at the Australian Grand Prix issued the latest reminder to the rest of the F1 grid of his talents.

Having been discarded by Ferrari to make space for the incoming 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton, S🌸ainz, now a three-time grand ๊prix winner, has been left unemployed and seeking a drive for next season.

As the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race since the start of 2023, Sainz will be in-deman💃d as teams look to securꩵe their driver line-ups for 2025 and beyond.

So where could the Spaniard end up?

Mercedes

On paper, this is arguably the most obvious option for both parties. Sainz is looking for a new home and Mercedes have a vacancy to fill. Mercedes would also provide Sa🦂inz with one of the most competitive available seats.

Toto Wolff has admitt🌄ed Sainz is one of several possible candidates for 2025 but Mercedes are in no hurry to make a decision.

“The ones that are available or that could be interesting f💖or us, they all have argumeཧnts in favour of them,” Wolff said in Australia.

“Be it the very young ones, be very mature ones in the bes♊t years. Or Carlos. It’s a difficult choice because ther𒆙e is no real… it’s not like there is a criteria for one and everything points to the other.

“I just want to do a step back and just monitor t🍎he situation because some of the guys mentioned may sign for other teams and so just looking at it.”

Mercedes’ ongoing performance struggle🌠s will be a question mark forᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Sainz, while contract length could be another sticking point.

Sainz wants c♎areer st♑ability, so would he accept what would likely be a short-term deal given that Mercedes will be looking to promote their protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the coming years?

Red Bull

Sainz ha♚s now emerged🍨 as a serious option for Red Bull’s second seat, with Christian Horner refusing to rule out a reunion in 2025.

“We want to field the best pairing that we can in Red Bull Racing and sometimes youܫ've got to look outside the pool as well," Horner said in🌠 Melbourne. “You've had a very fast, unemployed driver win [the] race. So the market is reasonably fluid with certain drivers.

“Based on a performance like that you couldn't rule any possibility out, so 🐻I think you ju💜st want to take the time [to decide].”

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen's future has also been the subject of i🌊ntense speculat🌌ion in recent weeks, though the reigning world champion has reiterated his intention to see out his contract with Red Bull. 

Therefore, any move to Red Bull will seemingly depend on the performances of current incumbent 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez in the coming weeks and months - meaningও it is largely out of Sainz's hands. 

If Sainz can continue to shine he will🌄 only become 𓃲a more attractive proposition for Red Bull.

Waiti💯ng on Red Bull to make a call over Perez does not come without risks for Sainz, who could be overlooked and end up missing out on other opportunities in the process.

But with Red Bull boasting bღꦐy far the most coveted seat, the risk may be one Sainz is willing to gamble on.

Audi

Sainz has long been linked to Aღudi and the rumours certainly won’t go away as long as he remains a free agent.

Audi will complete their entry as a works team in F1 from 2026, taking full control of the Sauber outfit, to become a constructor 💝an🦋d engine manufacturer.

Sainz’s father, Carlos Sainz Sr, has already revealed that his son is interested in Audi’s F1 project, but such a move would require an element of patie♍nce.

The current S🌠auber team would represent a big step back for Sainz, and the🌠 Hinwil-based outfit’s competitive fortunes are unlikely to change dramatically before 2026.

There is also no guarantee that Audi’s foray into F1 will be a success - instant, or otherwise - and with Sainz fast-approaching his thirties, 𒐪he can’t afford to wait for years for the project to become a success.

That said, Sainz could find something at Audi he has not had so far in his F1 care🔯er - the chance to be a lead driver and build a team around him.

Audi may be Sainz’s🌺 best landing spot if seats at Red Bul💧l and Mercedes get taken.

Aston Martin

A seat could theoretically open up at Aston Martin, but this would only be the case if168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Fernando Alonso moved to either Red Bull or Mercedes, or decideꦚd to call time on his illustrious career.

If a move🍰 to the likes of Red Bull or Mercedes was not on the cards for Sainz, Aston Martin’s highly ambitious pro🐲ject would be one that would surely appeal.

The 💟Silverstone outfit are already establisheಌd within the upper midfield and have been regular podium challengers over the past year.

Aston Martin would provide Sainz with a quicker routꦅe to success tha♔n Audi, in theory at least.

Williams

A switch to Williams for Sainz feels the least likely on this list, but with168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Logan Sargeant’s future far from secure, it cannot be totally ruled out eitꦛhe🐻r.

Swapping Ferrari for Williams would mark an obvious step back in competitiveness for Sainz🌱 in the immediate term.

Williams have grand plans to return to the front of the F1 grid but still have a mountain to climb - both in terms of on-track performance and off-t🎃rack infrastructure - to get there.