Carlos Sainz’s next destination on the Formula 1 grid in 2025 is likely to have a huge impact on plenty of other driver’s futures this year.
The 29-year-old is in the unfortunate position of losing his seat at Ferrari while arguably in the best form of his life.
Speaking on The Race Podcast, journalist Edd Straw discussed where he believes the Spaniard is most likely going to end up next year.
It’s not unheard of in Formula 1 for a driver to discover their fate 12 months in advance but there’s always a risk attached.
In this scenario, bringing in seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has negated much of that risk, although Sainz is well clear of him in the Drivers’ Championship so far this season.
Much of that is down to the car and Mercedes’s lack of understanding of this season’s regulations, but Sainz is arguably in even better form than his teammate Charles Leclerc.
That could create fireworks as the season goes on, but until then Sainz has to figure out his next steps and his most likely destination for 2025 could see him in a very different fight next year.
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Carlos Sainz’s most likely destination in 2025 is a step down from Ferrari
The 2025 F1 grid is starting to take shape with half of next season’s seats now filled.
Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg have signed contracts with Aston Martin and Sauber respectively.
That means there are only two seats left in the front half of the grid – at Red Bull and Mercedes.
Carlos Sainz knows he’s in a straight fight with Sergio Perez to be Max Verstappen’s teammate next season and advisor Helmut Marko has spoken positively about the Spaniard.
He doesn’t appear to be in the frame to drive for Toto Wolff’s team with Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently being lined up for that seat should he impress in Formula 2.
It means that Carlos Sainz’s most likely destination in 2025 at this stage is Audi.
The German manufacturer won’t be on the grid until next year, meaning Sainz would have to put up with a season driving for a struggling Sauber team.
That may not particularly appeal and might explain why he’s not rushing to sign the contract offered to him.
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Carlos Sainz to Audi appears to be on the cards
Talking about the three-time race winner’s future, Straw said: “The [Carlos] Sainz question is interesting Mark [Hughes] because I don’t know about you, but I just think all roads point to Audi for Sainz.
“I think he’s right to hang on but I just don’t see it opening up for him.”
Journalist Mark Hughes added: “Exactly that, there are these possibilities around, but if you attach probabilities to each of them then none of them are looking very, very strong and then there’s this path of least resistance taking you down that Audi channel.
“It’s a project that’s probably going to be a few years in the making of being competitive and he’s a guy approaching 30, he really needs to be building on the momentum that his Ferrari season has given him.
Ben Anderson concluded: “He belongs in a top seat, it’s ludicrous that he’s not really a first option even for the second seat of two teams that have a vacancy in theory.”
If Sainz’s most likely destination for 2025 is Sauber, then the back of the grid is likely to be dominated by one man.
Valtteri Bottas has shown with his performances that it’s not all doom and gloom but some terrible pit stops have denied him a top ten finish this season.
Audi will have a bigger influence on the team in 2025 as well and alongside Nico Hulkenberg, they will have the strongest partnership outside the top five.
The post ‘All roads point to’: Journalist shares Carlos Sainz’s move likely destination for 2025 after Ferrari exit appeared first on F1 Oversteer.