8-TIME F1 WINNER EMERGES AS WILLIAMS RACING'S TOP ALTERNATIVE TO CARLOS SAINZ TO REPLACE LOGAN SARGEANT IN 2025 - REPORTS

Recent reports stated that RB driver Daniel Ricciardo could be an alternative pick for Williams if Carlos Sainz refuses their offer. The British team is rumored to part ways with young Logan Sargeant at the end of the 2024 F1 season.

Ever since Lewis Hamilton announced that he would join Ferrari in 2025 and replace Carlos Sainz, the driver market started to pick up the pace. While several teams chased the Spaniard, others also started looking for a fresh driver lineup to move up the grid.

Teams like Audi, Red Bull, Williams, and even Alpine were rumored to have approached Sainz. Williams's team principal, James Vowles, openly praised the Spanish F1 driver and wooed him to join the team. Even now, however, he has not decided which team he will join in 2025.

As the 2024 F1 season progressed forward, teams reportedly lost interest in Sainz because of how long he was taking to make a decision.

According to F1 presenter, Will Buxton during Austrian GP, Williams is now in talks with Daniel Ricciardo as Carlos Sainz continues to stall his decision. Ricciardo currently drives for RB but is yet to outscore his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who is much younger and has less experience. Since Red Bull is known for their frequent driver shuffles and demands quick on-track performance, several reports have claimed that the 8-time race winner could exit from RB at the end of 2024.

Daniel Ricciardo in talks with Williams as Carlos Sainz stalls his future, according to F1 pundit

F1 pundit Will Buxton recently reported that Williams could be in talks with RB driver Daniel Ricciardo to replace Logan Sargeant in 2025.

While performing the grid walk in the 2024 F1 Austrian GP for F1 TV, Buxton talked about the British team's interest in the Australian. He also reported that Williams moved on from Carlos Sainz since the Spaniard made them wait for too long.

"His entire future [is] on the line right now. There is much talk that he will be out of this seat after the summer break. There is talk that he may be in negotiations with Williams for their second seat next year alongside Alex Albon. Williams, as we understand, are sick of waiting for Carlos Sainz to make his mind up on where he wants to go next year and may close that door off for him," Buxton said (41:50)

As of now, Williams is yet to decide on which driver they will pick to replace Logan Sargeant for 2025. Apart from Ricciardo and Sainz, rumors have also emerged that the British team could be eyeing Valtteri Bottas as well. The Finnish driver drove for the team when he first entered F1.

2024-07-05T08:57:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd