Ex-F1 driver urges Carlos Sainz to snub Audi and the target Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes seat in 2025

Carlos Sainz's father's Audi connection is the reason for the Sauber rumors.

Ex-F1 driver urges Carlos Sainz to snub Audi and the target Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes seat in 2025

Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz (Via: IMAGO)

Ever since the news of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 came out, there have been a lot of speculations going around. Starting with Carlos Sainz Jr. who is losing his seat next year to the seven-time world champion. There are a lot of speculations about where Sainz might move in 2025 and Sauber who will become the Audi F1 team in 2026 remains his expected seat.

Carlos Sainz Jr. was the only non-Red Bull driver to have a win in season 2023 and it makes him the most sought-after in the drivers market for the next season. With many teams not having fixed drivers lined up for the next season, he will have good options to choose from. While talking about the Spaniards’ trajectory going forward, the Ex- F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes that Sainz should snub the 2026 Audi move.

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I don’t think Carlos wants to go to Audi. By the time he gets a contender in 2029, he’ll be 38. This is his prime. If I was his manager, I would be sending Toto Wolff every metric and spreadsheet of why Carlos is equal to Charles Leclerc.
Karun Chandhok said vis Sky Sports.

According to the Ex- Red Bull driver, Carlos is at his prime right now, and he should use his maximum potential. Audi will be new to the sport in 2026, by the time they bear their clutches, it will be too late for the Spaniard. Chandhok believes that Sainz Jr. should aim for Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes seat in season 2025, which will ultimately open up better career opportunities for him. 

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Carlos Sainz Jr. aims to negotiate with all the available teams 

The contracts of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who both have expiration dates in 2024, came up a lot during the winter break. To keep their pairing together, they expected to have an easy time negotiating an extension before the season began. 

Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz
Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz (Via: Imago)

Leclerc, a vital member of the Scuderia, was bound to stay at Maranello; similarly, 29-year-old Carlos Sainz, who joined the team in 2021 and will be with the team through this season, was also expected to stay at Maranello. But for him, things took turn for worse as Ferrari signed the seven-time world champion from the 2025 season. 

Obviously, next year the team will be different and I will be moving somewhere else. But I still have no idea where. I’m going to take my time to take the decision. The right decision for me, for my career, for the next three-four years that I might be in the next place that I go to. In order for that, I need time to see the whole situation, talk to all the teams and see who’s offering the best chance for me to be world champion in the future.
Carlos Sainz Jr. said: lastwordonsports.com

Two years away from an Audi takeover, F1 news frequently associates Sainz with a possible Sauber move. Still, this is probably more of a safety net than a preference. For the season 2025, whether Mercedes or Red Bull are within Sainz’s reach, he will undoubtedly assess his chances before committing to either team.

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