Carlos Sainz is reportedly an option being considered at Aston Martin for the upcoming F1 season.
Carlos Sainz is performing at a very high level to start 2024. The Spaniard has finished on the podium in every race he has started, putting him fourth in the standings – despite being forced to miss a race with appendix surgery. As he searches to find a seat on next season’s grid, these performances are undoubtedly a positive. Several top teams, including Red Bull, Mercedes and Aston Martin, have vacancies.
Identifying the 29-year-old’s next destination in F1 is difficult. There are no shortage of opportunities and, by extension, no shortage of variables to consider. Still, a driver with three race victories and 21 podiums is certainly a valuable asset in the market.
Alonso future uncertain
Generally speaking, Sainz has not been heavily linked to a move to Aston Martin. Primarily, the Silverstone-based team has focused its rhetoric on stressing Fernando Alonso’s importance. For team principal Mike Krack, the key message has been that keeping the Double World Champion is the priority.
This puts the ball firmly in the 42-year-old’s court. Alonso is still performing at a very high level and, as evidenced by the first four rounds of 2024, remains the best driver at Aston Martin by some margin. From his perspective, the question is whether the British team can deliver a package strong enough to be competitive.
The recent upgrades to the AMR24 were the first step in this season’s development plan. By extension, they have been mentioned as part of the progress that will be critical to keep the Spaniard in the team.
Carlos Sainz Aston Martin links
On paper, this makes entry into Aston Martin very difficult. After all, Lance Stroll’s presence in the team is largely seen as near-guaranteed for the near future.
However, a report from Motorsport suggests that Carlos Sainz is seen as an option by some “factions” in the team. Intriguingly, it also adds that some within Aston would prefer to have Sainz leading Aston Martin alongside Lance Stroll – rather than Fernando Alonso.
This report contradicts the prevalent narrative from the British outfit. Considering their success with Alonso, replacing him – unless he voluntarily leaves – seems a somewhat impossible scenario.
Still, it is worth evaluating how the situation evolves. Red Bull still has a vacant seat that could be the first domino to fall in the driver market. Should the World Champion make a move to the Austrian team, it would open an opportunity for his compatriot.
However, it must be asked how long Aston Martin is willing to compromise its output to keep Stroll on the team.
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