There’s been rumors that Carlos would go to (what will become) Audi on a long term deal.
I’m not sure I even believe this, I get it from Hamilton’s perspective given Ferraris appeal. I don’t get it from Ferraris side. Ferrari shouldn’t be signing drivers for their twilight years.
Call me crazy but if I was Sainz I might look at Williams.
~hides from immediate backlash~
I really don’t see that he has anything to lose, unless of course he doesn’t beat Charles 
It will certainly spice things up if it happens!
I have also seen RUMORS of Fernando’s team in contact with Merc
It’s happening by all accounts. Just waiting on official announcements but Sky were at Brackley HQ today confirming story.
Also
“Mercedes have only known about the situation for the past 36 hours or so, and staff were told on Thursday afternoon - a few hours before the official announcement was expected, and after the news had broken worldwide. They were called to a meeting with team principal Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison.” Lewis Hamilton: Will Ferrari gamble pay off for seven-time world champion? - BBC Sport
If this is true, and some rumours are saying Toto was in Italy when he heard, it suggests something wasn’t quite right for a while within the team. Certainly a hurried meeting does appear to confirm that this was somewhat unexpected. You would think this would all be orchestrated properly.
part Hamilton part this - Record year for Ferrari sees supercar maker profits race past one billion euro milestone
8 months ago
I would imagine every single agent of every single driver in top-level motorsport is currently blowing up Toto’s phone.
I’ma text him.
Alonso to Merc would make my pants fit tighter.
Official now
https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1753130989054763178
If I were the boss I’m not sure I’d have him driving, just in terms of information transference. Maybe there is some contractual clause break date he has to adhere to, but still, we’re a few weeks from testing.
Whee! Unexpected
Developments
POV Carlos Sainz…
I can finally bust out my Ferrari shirt and shoes.
So the next exciting part is who will replace Lewis? So many different scenarios there. Also where Sainz ends up too.
Sainz was already linked to Audi for 2026 so I bet he goes to Sauber a year early. I would like to see him trade to Merc but I doubt that will happen.
Antonelli will still be too green yet I think to take the seat. Might be cool to see Albon in the seat.
The big question - will this be another misadventure like Vettel had with Ferrari?
I wonder when the merc jr driver antonelli gets into a F1 seat…
Not in 2025, not in the Merc at least.
I could see Ocon/Albono to Merc, Antonelli to Williams in 2025 anyway. Sargeant out.
To further bury the Andretti story, it has been revealed that the largest sum of overseas money to fund the terrorist organization Hamas is from Qatar at the tune of $360 million a year.
Will Qatar be dropped from the F1 schedule? Or will this be ignored in the name of $$$?
