Sergio Perez’s new Red Bull contract leaves the eyes of the Formula 1 world fixed firmly on Carlos Sainz.
The 29-year-old has known for months that he needs to find a new seat for the 2025 F1 season and his options appear to be running out.
David Croft was speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast and shared his thoughts on where he thinks Carlos Sainz will end up next year.
Officially, there are still seven teams who have at least one seat available for next season.
However, Sainz is well aware that several of those teams – such as Mercedes and Visa Cash App RB – aren’t interested in his services.
Croft now believes that the team he thinks Carlos Sainz will be driving for in 2025 is Williams.
It would be a real coup for team principal James Vowles to hire Sainz after extending Alex Albon’s contract.
They would arguably be the strongest pairing in the bottom half of the grid and could help them emerge as the best of the rest next year.
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David Croft thinks Carlos Sainz will join Williams in 2025
The focus of the Formula 1 driver’s market is now on the teams further back on the grid which won’t be what Carlos Sainz wants to hear.
He started the season in incredible form, winning the Australian Grand Prix and going toe-to-toe with teammate Charles Leclerc.
Sainz was arguably in the best form of his career and while he may have dropped off very slightly in recent weeks, he’s still shown that he’s one of the best drivers on the grid.
Unfortunately, he’s now having to launch himself into a project rather than staying with a front-running team.
The two most likely candidates to sign Sainz are Audi and Williams.
Both teams already have one driver confirmed for next year – Nico Hulkenberg and Alex Albon respectively.
Croft believes Sainz will head to Williams in 2025 and his camp have already been impressed in talks with the Grove-based manufacturer.
The Spaniard has also already missed one deadline to sign a contract with Audi, suggesting he’s leaning towards a move to the nine-time champions.
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James Vowles could play a key role in Carlos Sainz’s future
Asked where he thinks Sainz will be driving next year, Croft said: “Personally, hand on heart, I think he’ll go to Williams. I think that’s where Carlos Sainz is heading because he can see what’s in front of him with Williams.
“He probably can’t see the Audi vision at the moment because there’s not much to tell.
“They haven’t taken over at Sauber, they are building power units but that’s it.
“And if James Vowles gets him then fair play to James Vowles. On the podcast last year, I said he’s my team principal of the year, I might have to put him on the shortlist for 2024 as well because that’s a major coup and a brilliant driver line-up that could power that team for many years to come.”
Williams would love to sign Sainz but have already identified their preferred alternative if he decides to move elsewhere.
Sainz is a brilliant driver and it’s rare for someone of his calibre to have to step down so dramatically to continue in Formula 1.
Alongside Alex Albon – who was also suggested as a potential option for Red Bull – Williams could have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid.
They’ll both be hoping that the team can deliver a car that at least allows them to challenge for points on a regular basis.
The post ‘Hand on heart’: David Croft now shares which F1 team he thinks Carlos Sainz will be driving for in 2025 appeared first on F1 Oversteer.