Sainz moves from Mercedes
Carlos Sainz's podium in Azerbaijan has once again placed him at the center of rumors about a possible move to Mercedes to replace Kimi Antonelli. However, the Spanish driver had already been clear about this before.
Last year, Carlos Sainz spent many months not knowing what would become of his future. One of the teams he spoke to regarding this season was Mercedes, which was in the same situation after losing Lewis Hamilton.
However, the agreement did not materialize because Toto Wolff had a heartbeat with a name (composed) and surname: Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian talent who debuted in Formula 2 was seen by the Austrian as the next Max Verstappen.
After several months of analysis, Antonelli was finally confirmed as a full-time driver for Mercedes just a few days after turning 18. But a year later, doubts about his ability persist due to inconsistent results and not a few driving errors.
“We talked a lot with Toto, I certainly was one of the options considered”
Carlos Sainz to replace Kimi Antonelli
The truth is that Antonelli's difficulties in performing at a level similar to George Russell are completely logical, as the Italian does not have enough experience for that. Toto Wolff is clear that Antonelli needs time, and he has expressed this on several occasions, but that has not prevented replacement rumors, especially since he has not yet been confirmed for 2026.
And even more so after the podium achieved by Carlos Sainz at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which not only seems to have erased the Spanish driver's poor results in his first year with Williams, but has also placed him at the center of rumors.
However, Sainz himself already responded to that possibility a few weeks before triumphing in Baku, during his appearance on the podcast High Performance. The Spaniard pointed out that last year he talked “a lot with Toto [Wolff] and everyone else at that time, and I certainly was one of the options considered. But how close was I? You can ask Toto about that, but I think he is very happy with Kimi Antonelli.”
“Are there rumors that I will go to Mercedes instead of Antonelli?” Carlos Sainz would add. “I know I have a contract with Williams and Toto hasn’t called either me or James [Vowles]”. Thus, he closes any option of changing teams in 2026. And the truth is that there are no options from Mercedes either.
On one hand, Carlos Sainz is fully committed to Williams and their project, so he will not consider leaving before seeing how next season develops, the first of the new regulations. On the other hand, Mercedes has the firm intention of continuing with their two current drivers, although they have not yet officially confirmed them due to, above all, the ongoing negotiation with George Russell.