Fernando Alonso Blocks 2 Prime F1 Seats From Carlos Sainz in Heated Contract Battle for 2025

The driver market for 2025 is getting complicated. Ferrari and McLaren are the only top teams to have their driver lineups locked in. Red Bull, Mercedes, and Aston Martin still don’t know their future. For these three teams, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are prime candidates, who can win them championships. But surprisingly, in the battle of the Spaniards, Alonso has already come out on top for two teams.

As things stand for Red Bull, Max Verstappen has denied rumors about his exit from Red Bull amid their power struggle. His teammate Sergio Perez’s contract ends in 2024 but Team Principal Christian Horner is backing him. And that renewal is expected to be announced by the summer break. This leaves Mercedes and Aston Martin having one seat each.

According to F1 TV presenter Lawrence Barretto, Lawrence Stroll is interested in signing Carlos Sainz for Aston Martin. But the ball lies in Fernando Alonso’s court. Stroll has already offered a multi-year contract to the two-time champion. And the team has given him the first right of refusal. Only if he turns it down will they look for other prospects to line up with Lance Stroll.

That is the first hurdle that Sainz might encounter, but not the worst. Reportedly, even Toto Wolff prefers Alonso over Sainz for 2025. “The Spaniard (Sainz) is not in the top two on the team’s  (Mercedes) shortlist (Fernando Alonso is understood to be P2 behind Antonelli),” wrote Barretto.

That is quite a big blow for the Ferrari driver. Despite being the only non-Red Bull driver to win in 2023 and 2024, he is jobless for 2025. But there is an interesting theory floated by Eddie Jordan which could see both the Spaniards under one roof.

Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz could be teammates at Aston Martin

Lance Stroll has been a serial underperformer at Aston Martin. He has been out-qualified by teammate Fernando Alonso on most occasions. This, along with Sainz’s availability could lead Aston Martin to a Sainz-Alonso duo for 2025, believes Eddie Jordan.

“Do not be surprised if you see an all-Spanish Aston Martin team next year,” the former F1 Boss said on the Formula for Success podcast. “I am telling you I believe that if there is not a place in Red Bull for him, he will join Fernando in Aston Martin – that’s what I believe. I have no real hardcore evidence but it’s a gut feeling and very often my gut feel is a bit different to other people,” he added.

Read More: Fernando Alonso’s Former Engineer Urges Toto Wolff to Sign Spaniard for the 2025 Season

The contract battle is indeed heating up for 2025 and beyond. Will Sainz lose out to his champion compatriot in the race for an F1 seat?