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McLaren driver Lando Norris believes Carlos Sainz should have moved to Red Bull instead of Williams. The latter's move was announced earlier this week after months of speculation.
Lewis Hamilton will replace Sainz at Ferrari in 2025. The Brit's move was announced prior to the start of the current F1 season, however, Sainz's new team was not announced until this week. He was speculated to be in talks with multiple teams including Red Bull, Mercedes, and Audi before his move to Williams was announced.
Norris suggested in a conversation with Sky Sports that Sainz should have moved to Red Bull instead. He said:
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"Honestly, the easy one is just to say Red Bull. He should have gone there in my eyes. Obviously, I know Carlos Sainz more than Checo and that kind of thing. But Carlos deserves a lot."
"He's one of the best drivers in Formula One. He's proven that countless times. I'm a good friend of his, you know. So I'm happy for him that he's still in Formula One," he added.
Sainz was speculated to move to Red Bull early in the season. However, the team announced Sergio Perez's two-year contract renewal, which presumably closed the doors for him.
Lando Norris highlights the positives of Carlos Sainz joining Williams
The 24-year-old mentioned that Carlos Sainz could be a positive addition to Williams Racing in 2025. Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant currently drive for the team. The latter will no longer be racing for them after this season.
Norris claimed in the same interview with Sky Sports that Sainz can "try and bring Williams back up" from their current position.
"I'm so happy that he's going to drive and that he can try and bring Williams back up. And him partnering Alex, I think it would be good for Formula One at the same time. So that's a good thing. But I'm sure a lot of people would have loved to say that he should have gone to Red Bull potentially. But that's not my decision to make," he concluded.
Alex Albon has been carrying the team's points since 2023. Sargeant had managed to score only a single point last season against Albon's 27. Williams was seventh in the World Championship in 2023. Sargeant is yet to score a point in 2024.
Carlos Sainz is expected to help the team battle the lower order in the World Championship. The Spaniard has raced with Ferrari since the 2021 season. He has three career F1 wins and continues to battle within the top five in the World Championship.
