Peter Windsor believes something ‘completely out of sync’ will happen on the 2025 Formula 1 grid

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After a unique winter of stability on the Formula 1 grid heading into 2024, next year’s paddock could look very different.

Teams at the front and the back of the grid are considering their options which could force a real shake-up of driver pairings with so many contracts coming to an end.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Peter Windsor has admitted he’s already unsure about something that’s happened ahead of next year.

Drivers will be keen to position themselves with the best team possible ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.

Red Bull will be developing their own power units, while Aston Martin will be teaming up with Honda for the first time.

It’s hard to know how much momentum from this season will be carried into next year and beyond.

However, Lewis Hamilton decided it was time to move on and will be leaving Mercedes at the end of the current campaign.

He’ll be joining Ferrari for 2025 but that has left Carlos Sainz seeking a move elsewhere, which Windsor thinks is out of sync with how the grid should look.

The 29-year-old has been sensational this season and if he continues at this rate will have Frederic Vasseur questioning whether he’s made the right call.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Carlos Sainz’s move away from Ferrari out of sync with F1 grid

Teams rarely move more than a season in advance to secure a driver from another team.

However, when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has only made one move in his career thus far and it worked out very well for him after winning six championships with Mercedes.

Once it became clear he was available for 2025, Ferrari had to move and that gave Vasseur an impossible decision to make.

Ultimately, he decided to stick with Charles Leclerc, leaving Sainz without a seat.

Despite having an appendectomy, the Spanish three-time winner has driven like a man with a point to prove.

However, Windsor believes Sainz’s move away from Ferrari doesn’t sync with how the market should function.

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

Peter Windsor unsure about Ferrari’s Sainz decision

Talking about the impending switch at Maranello, Windsor said: “I mean, there’s this thing called the natural way of things.

“And the natural way of things in Formula 1 is that Ferrari have announced they’ve re-signed Charles Leclerc over the winter, a long-term contract, everybody’s happy with that.

“And then the season starts and race three Carlos Sainz his teammate blows him away and wins the Australian Grand Prix in unbelievable fashion, a beautiful drive.

“And the natural way of things is that Carlos Sainz should now be sitting down to renew his contract with Ferrari, a multi-year contract, what a team, wow.

“But of course, that’s not happening. They’ve already signed Lewis and Carlos Sainz although he’s just won this Australian Grand Prix in the devastating way he’s won it, is still waking up on Monday morning thinking, what am I going to be doing next year?

“It’s not right! That to me is completely out of sync with the nature of humanity and the nature of Formula 1 and the way of the world, it’s not right.

“There’s nowhere that he’s going to go that’s going to be as good as where he is and where he is right now he’s doing a really good job. There’s no reason for him to be leaving that team, he’s the perfect complement, I wouldn’t even use the word teammate to Charles Leclerc.”

Carlos Sainz left in a tricky situation

While Carlos Sainz’s move is out of sync with the rest of the driver’s market this season, the Ferrari man potentially has several brilliant options in front of him.

There’s talk that he could end up driving the only car quicker than Ferrari next year if he re-joins Red Bull.

Whether he’s the right teammate for Max Verstappen is another matter, but Christian Horner may just want the strongest possible line-up for 2025.

He’s also on the list of options for Mercedes, while Audi are huge fans of the 29-year-old.

However, he may not want to join a long-term project when he’s in a position to win races right now.