Carlos Sainz's indecisiveness over his 2025 Formula 1 future has reportedly incited Williams to consider other candidates for its available seat alongside Alex Albon for next season.
Initial frontrunners Williams and Audi/Sauber have offers on the table for the outgoing Ferrari driver’s services.
However, Sainz has been drawn at the last hour into negotiations with Alpine, a move orchestrated by the French outfit’s recently appointed executive advisor, Flavio Briatore.
According to Motorsport.com, Briatore is working behind the scenes to secure a supply of Mercedes engines for the Enstone squad for 2026, a move consistent with Alpine’s reported desire to ditch its own in-house F1 engine development programme.
However, Sainz hesitancy has frustrated both Williams and Sauber/Audi. While the latter is willing to wait a bit longer, the Grove-based outfit has reignited talks with other drivers, with Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas believed to be at the top of Williams team boss James Vowles short list.
Both drivers are obviously well-acquainted with Vowles, having worked with the former Mercedes strategist during their time at the Brackley squad.
But Williams’ priority is to recruit a proven race winner fully invested in the team's long-term project. Sainz's hesitation has cast doubt on his commitment, prompting Vowles to explore alternatives.
In Austria this weekend, Ocon downplayed rumors linking him solely to Haas. The Frenchman hinted at other potential destinations for his 2025 season.
“There are, yes, many options but I will not comment on what priority,” he said, emphasizing his desire to seal a deal as soon as possible rather than risk being sent to the sidelines for waiting too long as was the case in 2018.
“We at no cost want to live that again, for sure. It's going well at the moment, there's a lot of deep discussions going on and it should be sorted soon hopefully.”
Bottas expected last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix – where it was anticipated that Sainz would announce a deal with Williams – to bring more clarity to the driver market.
With this not being the case, the Finn has dug in with his management to weigh his options.
“I was hoping there would be decisions made earlier this week but deadlines got pushed back again,” he said.
“On my days off, I've been active with my management, with different teams, including this team [Sauber] obviously,” he said.
“So yeah, kind of waiting for a piece to fall into a place and then it should all happen pretty quick.”
While he waits for the next domino to fall, Bottas says he has a “pretty clear” picture of where he would like to be racing next year.
“Absolutely. I've got my priority and my order, which I can't tell you,” he said. “But yeah, for me, it's pretty clear what I want.”
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