Carlos Sainz ‘convinced’ he can beat £277k-a-week driver if he makes 2025 move

Follow us on Google Discover

Carlos Sainz reportedly believes he’s capable of beating a big-name teammate next year amid contract talks behind the scenes. Sainz is looking for a new home for 2025 after Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton.

He can likely cross one option off his list after Aston Martin tied down Fernando Alonso down to a new contract. According to BBC F1’s Andrew Benson, there’s no prospect of him replacing Lance Stroll.

But there are still multiple teams showing interest in Sainz. And according to FUnoAnalisiTecnica, he expects to establish himself as the number one driver at one of his possible destinations.

• READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

Red Bull director Helmut Marko said after the Japanese Grand Prix that they would ‘have to’ consider signing the Spaniard. Sainz has finished on the podium at all three races he’s started this year, including a victory in Australia.

He started out as a Red Bull junior driver at Toro Rosso and a return could now be on the cards. But Lawrence Barretto says Sauber (soon to be Audi) and Williams are more likely destinations.

Carlos Sainz backs himself against possible 2025 opponent

According to the report, Sainz is ‘convinced’ that he’s more than a match for George Russell, the man he could partner at Mercedes. He’s confident that he could beat the Englishman over a full season.

As such, if he’s to join the Silver Arrows, he wants to be on ‘equal terms’ to Russell. The former Williams driver earns around £277k-a-week under his current deal, as per Spotrac.

Russell has proven against Hamilton that he’s a formidable opponent. He beat the seven-time world champion in their first year together as teammates in 2022. A

And while the 39-year-old struck back last year, it’s Russell who’s taken command of the team so far this year. He leads the qualifying head-to-head 3-1 and has yet to lose out to Hamilton on race day.

Will Carlos Sainz go to Mercedes?

Report suggest Sainz is indeed in talks with Mercedes over driving for them next year, but there’s a problem. He wants a two-year contract with the option of a third, but Toto Wolff only wants to commit to one year at the outset before a potential second.

This reflects the team’s opinion of the three-time race-winner. They effectively view him as a stop-gap until driver academy starlet Andrea Kimi Antonelli is ready or Max Verstappen gives into their charm offensive.

Martin Brundle has urged him to ‘keep his options open’ and not rush into a decision on his future. Wolff apparently wants to wait until late summer before making a final call.

17-year-old Antonelli has only just started out in F2 and may need to take an intermediate step at Williams before he races for Mercedes. In that respect, Karun Chandhok views Sainz as a ‘safer’ option for the eight-time champions.