Guenther Steiner: Flavio Briatore Factor Enough to Turn Carlos Sainz Away from “Cheap Talk” Around Williams

5 Months and 11 race weekends have passed since Lewis Hamilton‘s Ferrari announcement, but Carlos Sainz still remains without a contract for 2025. As per reports, his Williams move was about to be announced ahead of the Spanish GP, his home race. But in a twist of fate, Flavio Briatore’s arrival at Alpine threw a spanner in the works. The Enstone outfit entered the race to sign the Spaniard. According to former Haas Boss Guenther Steiner, this Alpine move is Sainz’s best option now. After James Vowles took over as Williams’ Team Principal, fresh energy possessed the team.

The Briton brought a strong promise to take the legacy team to its historic best. The orator that he is, made everybody believe in the backmarker team’s abilities. However, Alex Albon & Co are still struggling. Contrastingly, Alpine has taken a quick jump into the points. On the Red Flags podcast, Guenther Steiner was questioned why Williams is surprisingly considered a frontrunner. “Do you know (think) that they are the frontrunner?” he retorted. “But talk is cheap, you know,” he added, highlighting how chatter in the paddock and social media shouldn’t be taken seriously. “If everybody says it, it’s still not a fact.”

The Italian-American then addressed Sainz’s contract situation, noting, “I don’t think he has made his mind up. Now, with Flavio joining them (Alpine) credibility (has increased). All of a sudden, Flavio’s in the game. It’s like, ‘Woah, these guys are actually going to go serious. Let’s talk with them as well.’ Because maybe before this, Carlos didn’t even speak with them. Now they see that there is something moving. That is maybe why Flavio is back as well, to see if they can get Sainz. He (Briatore) tells Sainz, ‘This is what we want to do with the team. That’s why I came here, to help the team get better.'”

Steiner also explained how Sainz is looking for a flexible contract that allows him to exit if the team’s performance tanks. Though Williams reportedly offered him that, with a 2+2 deal, Alpine’s rising credibility cannot be discounted. However, to get his future set perfectly, the Ferrari driver has indefinitely delayed the contract decision.

Carlos Sainz will take “all the time” he needs to finalize 2025 contract

Carlos Sainz has fully committed to living in the moment. The 3-time Grand Prix winner is aware of the mediocrity that awaits him in 2025 with all top teams having rejected him. At the Austrian GP, he sent a warning to the teams pursuing him, to not be impatient.

“I’m going to be honest with and straightforward with the teams,” Sainz said, responding to pressing questions about his contract. “But it’s such an important decision for me also that I’m going to take all the time that I need to take it. And if there’s teams that cannot wait or are a bit impatient, yeah, I cannot do anything about it. It’s going to be my future, my decision, and I’m going to try and be as honest as possible with everyone and give myself the time that I need,” he further added.

The Spaniard might actually not have all the time in the world. Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen have highlighted how other drivers are waiting for his decision before teams start considering them. However, the teams that get uncomfortable with the delay in not knowing their future, might back out, leaving Sainz in the middle of nowhere.