The world of Motorsport learned 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton was to join Ferrari F1 in 2025 last February, replacing Carlos Sainz in the process.
This meant that the 4-time race winner had to find a new team. Later last year it was confirmed that Williams would be his destination.
His father, Carlos Sainz Senior, a decorated racing veteran himself, was interviewed by El Chiringuito, addressing the 30-year-old Spaniard and his departure of the team.
“I wouldn’t say that [Ferrari] treated him badly,” says Sainz Senior when asked of the treatment of his son.
How the decision came about in the first place
Ferrari are a highly appealing team for a driver, with almost all the greats of Formula 1 all rooted deep within its history – spectacular success; a title by association.
The two-time World Rally Champion explained that Lewis Hamilton was the one who initiated contact with Ferrari F1 — and it left Carlos Sainz Jr. on the outside.
Ferrari had looked to set to retain the Spaniard until the seven-time World Champion appeared.
“I’d say that maybe it all came down to the circumstances—the ‘perfect storm.’
“In other words, Ferrari was happy with Carlos, but the opportunity arose because Lewis Hamilton himself created it.
“Lewis Hamilton is the one who approached Ferrari and said, ‘Hey, I can and want to race for Ferrari’,” Sainz Sr. confirmed.
“Maybe the whole process could have been a bit more transparent, but if it had been more transparent, it probably would have leaked to the media, and Ferrari didn’t want that to happen.”
When a racing team are met with an opportunity to gain a driver with such success, it was too good an opportunity for them to turn down. Naturally it stung for Sainz.
Ferrari’s classy gesture to Sainz
Carlos Sainz had a successful time with the Scuderia. His first season a winless one as Ferrari struggled, but he beat Charles Leclerc in the standings.
He gained his first pole and win at the 2022 British Grand Prix as things fell into place for him. Sainz furthered his successes in 2023 and 2024 with victories at Singapore, Australia and Mexico.
In December the Sainz duo got to drive together at Fiorano as Fred Vasseur and co. gave them a beautiful farewell. Sainz Jr. also got gifted his SF-75 from his Silverstone win in 2022.
“In the end, they showed a fantastic gesture towards him, something they’ve practically never done for any driver in Ferrari’s history. They gave him a proper farewell, gifting him a Formula 1 car and inviting me to drive that car at Fiorano, at Ferrari’s factory.
“That said, if you think about it, I believe he must have done things very well, left with his head held high, and made a good impression for all of that to happen,” concluded the multi-time Dakar winner.
Co-Author: Fernanda Álvarez
