Plooij knows which other team has the paperwork ready: ‘Sainz could sign with Audi, but he will wait’

Former driver Robert Doornbos and Ziggo Sport analysts Olav Mol and Jack Plooij discuss the future of Carlos Sainz, who can now sign all the papers for Audi if he wants. According to Plooij, the three-time Grand Prix winner would prefer to wait. In the opinion of the gentlemen of Ziggo Sport, Sainz will wait for Mercedes, because Red Bull Racing is no longer an option.

The 2024 season is only five races old, but there is a lot of talk and speculation about the driver pairings for 2025 and 2026. Of course, big rule changes are coming in 2026, and drivers who have yet to change teams are hopeful. make good choices. Sainz is one of the drivers still looking for a new employer. The voices in the rumor mill discuss several possibilities: Red Bull, Mercedes and Audi. Now that Sergio Pérez is doing well alongside Max Verstappen, the chance of Sainz returning to Red Bull seems slim.

Audi seems to be the most obvious choice for many, Helmut Marko also revealed that Sainz has received an offer from the future racing team from Ingolstadt to drive for them for three years. There are currently two drivers left in the team: Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou. “Zhou is very emotional there, but whether he will still be there next year is another story,” says Jack Plooij, who looks back at pictures of Zhou thanking his home crowd in Shanghai for their support during the Chinese Grand Prix and there he responds. emotional. ‘Audi wants to continue with two new drivers: Hülkenberg and Sainz. Sainz can sign, but he will wait a little longer. Red Bull is already ready, but Mercedes is still possible,” Plooij said.

The text continues below the image.

‘Wolf really has to give up’

The position will be available at Mercedes in 2025, Lewis Hamilton will leave for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season. “Mercedes is the most sensible,” says Mol. ‘Mercedes is not a one-man team rookie, so Antonelli is not a good choice. Sainz is in a very good position. “I don’t think Mercedes will buy Bottas or Vettel,” Mol points out. “There are several things going on now,” Doornbos continues. two-year contract with Sainz, otherwise he will go to Audi, so Wolff has to give up,” Doornbos said.

Talking about the 2026 rules and the changes that concern the engine reminds Mol of Enzo Ferrari’s statement: Aerodynamics is for people who can’t build engines. “There is some truth in that,” Doornbos begins. ‘Then in 2014, when Mercedes came out with a hybrid engine, that engine overshadowed all the other problems. That thing went off like a rocket,” says the former driver, who has previously indicated that he expects Mercedes to do well under the 2026 regulations. “And then it was party status There was still one, and I was very happy that it was gone,” concludes Mol.

Would you like to discuss? Click here to register.