One of the most talked about topics in Formula 1 right now is where Carlos Sainz will be driving in 2025 and Karun Chandhok has added his view to the discussion.
The Spanish driver has been incredibly impressive this year and would be challenging Max Verstappen at the top of the Drivers’ Championship if he didn’t miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Speaking on Instagram after the Japanese Grand Prix, the Sky Sports F1 pundit shared his view on where Sainz may end up next.
Karun Chandhok shares who he wants Carlos Sainz to drive for in 2025
With interest in this season beginning to gear up during the winter break, a huge announcement was suddenly sprung on the world of Formula 1.
Lewis Hamilton announced that he was leaving Mercedes at the end of the season and heading for his dream move to Ferrari.
Just a few weeks beforehand, Charles Leclerc had signed a new long-term deal with the team, spelling bad news for Carlos Sainz.
The 29-year-old was sacrificed for the seven-time world champion but now has a year to prove he’s worthy of another top seat on the grid.
That’s exactly what Karun Chandhok believes he deserves in 2025 after a fantastic start to this campaign.
He’s been the best of the rest behind the Red Bulls in Bahrain and Japan now, but his piece de resistance this year was in Melbourne.
Just two weeks after having major surgery, he capitalised on a Verstappen DNF to lead from the front and take the third victory of his career.
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Talking after the conclusion of the Japanese Grand Prix, Chandhok said: “Where would you like to see Sainz in 2025?
“I would say, Mercedes, I really would. I don’t know if that’s a popular opinion or not but I think he’d be a straight swap for Lewis [Hamilton], I think it would be great.”
Whether Sainz is the man that Mercedes want for next year is another matter.
Toto Wolff has made his feelings clear about the prospect of potentially signing three-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Mercedes would potentially give the Dutchman even more benefits than Hamilton should he decide to quit Red Bull.
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Youngster Kimi Antonelli is still being lined up as a potential teammate for George Russell too and he will ramp up his testing very soon.
This might make it difficult for Chandhok’s dream of seeing Sainz in a Mercedes in 2025 difficult to manifest.
However, there are more options on the table for the Spaniard elsewhere.
Where could Carlos Sainz be driving next season?
It would be a tragedy if Carlos Sainz wasn’t in a top car next year considering how quick he’s been at the start of 2024.
Helmut Marko has admitted that Red Bull have to consider whether he’s the best driver to partner Max Verstappen going forward if they decide not to renew Sergio Perez’s contract.
Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll is believed to be interested in hiring the 29-year-old but that would likely require Fernando Alonso to move on.
Journalist Will Buxton thinks Sainz will end up at another different team that may involve Sainz being involved in a more long-term project.
While Williams have also spoken to his management in the past, meaning he’s been linked with virtually half the available grid at this stage.
It means that we’re no closer to knowing where Sainz could end up, but once he makes his decision, it will trigger several other moves up and down the paddock with the driver’s market ready to burst into action.
The post ‘I would say’: Karun Chandhok shares which team he wants Carlos Sainz to join in 2025 – Mercedes or Red Bull appeared first on F1 Oversteer.