Antonelli has only scored three points since his podium at the Canadian Grand Prix<\/a> in June, fewer than all but three other drivers on the grid, Carlos Sainz<\/a>, Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto.<\/p>\n That trio are currently at the bottom of the drivers\u2019 championship<\/a>, aside from Jack Doohan, who was dropped by Alpine after just six races.<\/p>\n Despite all of this, Mercedes<\/a> team principal Toto Wolff<\/a> has put his full faith in Antonelli.<\/p>\n Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 324 2 293 3 230 4 194 5 163 6 117 7 70 8 66 9 38 10 37 <\/p>\n Wolff deployed a new tactic with Antonelli after Monza<\/a>, calling his performance \u2018underwhelming\u2019 after a tricky FP2 session, a poor start to the race and a five-second penalty for his overly aggressive driving when battling Williams<\/a> driver Alex Albon.<\/p>\n Although not officially confirmed, Mercedes are expected to continue with Antonelli and George Russell into 2026; however, the lengths of both of their contracts have not been confirmed.<\/p>\n Ralf Schumacher<\/a> believes that if Mercedes wished to call on him, Sainz would be available \u2018at any time\u2019 to join the Silver Arrows.<\/p>\n What he\u2019s \u2018heard\u2019 about the six-pole position driver\u2019s contract might worry Williams boss James Vowles<\/a>, who sees Sainz as a vital cog in the team\u2019s long-term future.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats<\/a><\/p>\n Schumacher was asked on the Formel 1 YouTube channel who Mercedes should approach for 2026 if they decide against retaining Antonelli, and Sainz\u2019s name came up.<\/p>\n He explained: \u201cWell, a rookie for Mercedes is fine anyway, let\u2019s say now in the season where they were and in this development phase, you can do that.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I agree with you, there\u2019s nobody big on the market at the moment where you\u2019d say, I absolutely have to have him now, most of them are all sorted.<\/p>\n CategoryAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2025 points7016Grand Prix results*114Grand Prix qualifying88Grand Prix wins00Grand Prix poles00Grand Prix podiums00Best finish5th8thRetirements32Did not start01Fastest laps00Grand Prix points finishes116Sprint results21Sprint Qualifying21Sprint wins00Sprint poles00Sprint podiums00The 2025 F1 teammate head-to-head battle of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz \u201cAnd obviously, Toto Wolff doesn\u2019t think much of Bottas, otherwise he would have kept him. You have to say that, sorry about that.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s difficult. Yes, the George Russell issue is a bit surprising, but maybe there\u2019ll be a twist at some point, the punchline as to why they\u2019re waiting so long, because I think Mercedes must be happy to have him by now, but there\u2019s no alternative.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, they have to see it through for another year, and then they\u2019ll have to see how things go.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Carlos Sainz would be available at any time. I mean, there seem to be some clauses, I don\u2019t know exactly, at least that\u2019s what you hear. He would certainly be the first person that comes to mind.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Williams star Carlos Sainz\u2019s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height<\/a><\/p>\n How Carlos Sainz\u2019s father reacted to Mercedes signing Andrea Kimi Antonelli<\/p>\n Sainz was one of the leading candidates to sign for Mercedes<\/a> last season, before they eventually decided on promoting Antonelli.<\/p>\n He had learned that Lewis Hamilton would be replacing him at Ferrari and suddenly had every midfield team courting his signature.<\/p>\n In the end, Sainz settled on Williams, and even though he\u2019s having a tough time, it appears to have been the right choice.<\/p>\n TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN\/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacValtteri BottasSergio PerezFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesN\/AN\/ARacing BullsN\/AN\/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN\/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers<\/p>\n Albon has overtaken Antonelli in the drivers\u2019 championship, and Williams should secure P5 in the constructors\u2019 standings unless something completely unexpected happens.<\/p>\n![\"Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2204221849-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Paddocker\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesRalf Schumacher thinks Carlos Sainz would be available \u2018at any time\u2019 if Mercedes wanted to sign him<\/p>\n
*Both drivers did not finish the Austrian Grand Prix<\/p>\n