Ex-world champion Damon Hill asserts Carlos Sainz is a ‘stronger’ driver than Charles Leclerc

Leclerc and Sainz have been pretty much neck and neck in their time together as Ferrari drivers. However, Damon Hill has a fascinating viewpoint on them. He was recently asked:

Who do you think is the stronger driver out of Charles and Carlos at the moment?

Damon Hill: You’re not supposed to say this, I think, and I have felt this going back to Silverstone 2022, when Carlos was giving instructions and to the team about his strategy, and Charles was sort of saying, tell me what to do or getting annoyed that he was given team orders.

Damon Hill said as a response

These are the marks of a driver who is aware of and able to cope with loads more information when they're driving. And Carlos is smart, and I think he showed in Australia he's not only a thinking driver, he's also fast. Actually in a race, for whatever reason, Charles was out qualified by Carlos and also he was out raced by him. Damon Hill further added

Sainz since joining the Ferrari F1 team, has only got better and better! Alongside the prolific Leclerc, he has managed to up his game. This is one of the main reasons why the former has so far proved the superior driver during the ongoing 2024 season. The 29-year-old has managed two podium finishes with one Grand Prix win this year.

F1 commentator deems Carlos Sainz not in ‘frame’ for a Mercedes seat

While Damon Hill has insisted that Carlos Sainz is a stronger driver than Charles Leclerc, there have been various rumors in the paddock, that have linked Sainz with a 2025 move to Mercedes. The German brand has quite a few other names on its shopping list as well.

However, despite the hype around Sainz, renowned F1 commentator, David Croft feels that the Spaniard is not on Toto Wolff’s radar.

I don’t think he’s in the frame for the Mercedes seat necessarily. David Croft said in an interview with Fox Sports

Croft has been commentating on the scintillating action of F1 for several years. He has a well-developed understanding of how the pinnacle of motor racing works and thus, banking on his wealth of experience, he has made it known that Sainz in his opinion, is not being seen as a potential 2025 driver by Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz has amassed interest from top teams like Red Bull, who have openly acknowledged his might since the Australian GP. The upcoming months are going to be fascinating as they could give a concrete idea of where Sainz will end up next year.