Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton might just be involved in the biggest F1 driver swap ever. Sainz has reportedly been offered a 2-year deal for Mercedes by Team Principal Toto Wolff to replace the departing Hamilton. However, with Ferrari’s developments hitting the right mark in 2024 while Mercedes remains clueless, the Spaniard might be in for a horrendous surprise.

Sainz and Mercedes are currently in negotiations over the 2025 contract. While Wolff has offered the three-time Grand Prix winner a one-year contract with an option to extend for 1 more year (a 1+1 deal), Sainz wants a 2+1 deal. This is where the negotiations seem to have hit a hurdle. Even if both parties arrive on common ground, Sainz could be forced to endure another year of Mercedes before the 2026 regulations offer otherwise.

While Frederic Vasseur took only 1 year to turn Ferrari’s fortunes around, Mercedes’ long-time commander Wolff seems to be driving in reverse. Even the return of Technical Director James Allison hasn’t led to promising developments. F1 Pundit Ben Anderson addressed the same on ‘The Race F1 Podcast’. “Mercedes, at the moment, are a sideways step at best“, he emphasized.

This swap is currently in Lewis Hamilton‘s favor and not Carlos Sainz’s. Amid these rumored negotiations, another F1 team seems to be pushing the Ferrari driver to sign with them.

Audi pushing Carlos Sainz for a response over his contract

Before Toto Wolff and Mercedes entered the picture, Sainz’s move to Audi was the most probable. His father, Carlos Sainz Sr. has long-standing relations with the German Constructor and even won his 4th Dakar Rally with them in 2024. It was also reported that he was lobbying with the Audi F1 bosses in 2023 for a seat for his son.

As a result, Sainz became Audi’s number 1 choice for a driver when they’d enter F1 in 2026. Nico Hulkenberg and the 2 Stake F1 team drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were the other prospects for the 2nd seat. But with the Spaniard being a hot prospect in the driver market, Audi is now “pushing” for a decision, as per AMuS.

With such a situation on his hand, he might not have the flexibility of waiting until the summer break to finalize his F1 future. The clock is ticking.