Carlos Sainz Jr.’s departure from Ferrari left him at a career crossroads, with talks involving Red Bull, Mercedes, and Williams before he ultimately signed with the Grove-based outfit for 2025. However, according to former F1 driver Marc Surer, Sainz’s camp, particularly his father Carlos Sainz Sr., was left puzzled by Mercedes’ decision to promote Kimi Antonelli instead of offering the seat to an established driver.
Surer revealed insights from conversations with Sainz Sr., where the Spanish rally legend questioned why Mercedes didn’t follow their usual junior driver path—one that saw George Russell gain experience at Williams before his promotion.
“At Mercedes, why take the risk now with the very young one when you would have had the chance to place him at Williams like you did with Russell? I agree with Carlos’ father – that’s not logical.”
Sainz Was Ready for Mercedes—But the Seat Went to Antonelli
It’s no secret that Sainz was interested in securing a top drive for 2025. With Red Bull extending Sergio Perez’s contract, his best option appeared to be Mercedes—a move he reportedly would have accepted immediately if offered.
“He would have taken a Mercedes seat,” Surer stated.
Instead, Mercedes took a gamble, fast-tracking Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old prodigy with no F1 race experience, straight into one of the sport’s most demanding seats.
Did Mercedes Take an Unnecessary Risk?
While Antonelli’s talent is undeniable, his first practice session at Monza ended in a crash—something that raised eyebrows in the paddock. Surer noted that Carlos Sainz Sr. found the celebration of Antonelli’s crash bizarre, questioning whether the young driver was truly ready to handle the pressure of a top team.
For Mercedes, the move signals a long-term vision, but for Sainz, it left him out of options at the front of the grid.
Can Williams Be More Than Just a Placeholder for Sainz?
Now set for a 2025 campaign with Williams, Sainz faces the challenge of proving that he deserves another shot at a title-contending team. His experience and racecraft will undoubtedly help Williams, but the question remains:
🔹 Did Mercedes make a mistake passing on Sainz for Antonelli?
🔹 Can Williams give Sainz a platform to prove he belongs at the front?
One thing is certain: all eyes will be on both Sainz and Antonelli in 2025 as they fight to justify their respective team’s decisions.