Former Formula 1 driver Marc Surer has disclosed insights from conversations with Carlos Sainz Sr. regarding his son’s recent move to Williams for the 2025 season.
Surer revealed that Sainz Sr. found Mercedes’ decision to promote their junior driver, Kimi Antonelli, directly to a race seat as “not logical.” Traditionally, Mercedes has placed emerging talents in partner teams, as exemplified by George Russell’s tenure at Williams before his elevation to the main team.
Surer commented, “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.”
Carlos Sainz Jr., after his departure from Ferrari, engaged in discussions with several top teams, including Red Bull and Mercedes. However, Red Bull extended Sergio Perez’s contract, and Mercedes opted for Antonelli, leading Sainz to secure a seat with Williams.

Surer emphasized that Sainz Jr. would have accepted a Mercedes offer, stating, “He would have taken a Mercedes seat.”
The decision to promote Antonelli has raised questions, especially after the young driver crashed George Russell’s W15 during his first practice session at Monza. Reflecting on this incident, Surer noted that Sainz Sr. was puzzled by the celebration following the crash, indicating concerns about Antonelli’s readiness for a top-tier seat.
As the 2025 season approaches, the focus will be on how Sainz Jr. adapts to his new role at Williams and how Antonelli performs under the spotlight at Mercedes. The contrasting paths of these drivers underscore the strategic decisions teams make regarding talent development and the balance between nurturing potential and leveraging experience.