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, Sainz,ꦫ 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-dema🐬nd as teams look to secure 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 Merceඣdes have a vacancy to fill. Mercedes would also provide Sainz with one of the most com🐷petitive available seats.

Toto Wolff ꧋has admitted Sain𝔉z 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 for us, they all have arguments in favour of them,” Wolff said i🤪n Australia.

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

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

Mercedes’ ongoing performance struggles will be a question mark for Sainz, while contrac🎃t length could be another sticking point.

Sainz wants career stability, so woulꦦd 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 yea🃏rs?

Red Bull

Sainz has now emerged as a♔ s꧑erious 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 you'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 reasonab🍌ly fluid with certain drivers.

“Based on a performance like thꦍat you couldn't rule any possibility out, so I thi🗹nk you just 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 intense s🐷peculation 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 - meaning it is largely out of Sainz's hands.&nbs﷽p;

If S🔯ainz can continue to shine he will only become a more attrac💃tive proposition for Red Bull.

Waiting on Red Bull to ma☂ke 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 by far the most coveted seat, the riskಞ may be one Sainz is willing to gamble oꦑn.

Audi

Sainz has long been linked to Audi and the rumours𒁃 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 constr🥂uctor and engine manufacturer.

Sainz’s fa♑ther, 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 patience.

The current Sauber team would represent a bi💃g ste🧸p 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 thirt🐻ies, he 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 career - the chance to beꩲ a lead driver and build a team around him.

Audi may be Sainz’s best landing spot if seats at Red🎃 Bull 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 decided to call time on his illustrious career✤.

If a move to the likes of Red Bullꦅ or Mercedes was not on the cards for Sainz, Aston Martin’s highly ambitious project would be one t🍰hat would surely appeal.

The Silverstone outfit are already established within the upper midfield and have been 🍷regular podium challengers ♏over the past year.

Aston Martin would provide Sainz with a quicker route to success than Audi, in theory at le꧋ast.

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’𒆙s future far from secure, it cannot be to♎tally ruled out either.

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 toꦚ climb - both in terms of on-track performance and off-track infrastructure - to get there.