Before the 2024 F1 season had even started, Carlos Sainz knew he was losing his drive at Ferrari. The Scuderia saw the opportunity to sign seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, and they took it.
Sainz was approaching the end of his contract, so rather than being sacked, he’s simply being released. It seemed a harsh decision at the outset, and looks increasingly brutal with each race that goes by.
The Spaniard had actually scored more points than Charles Leclerc in their first year as teammates in 2021. And while Leclerc had a comfortable edge in 2022, Sainz narrowed the gap to just six points last year.
He’s also responsible for Ferrari’s last three race wins – Silverstone 2022, Singapore 2023 and Melbourne this year. Indeed, Sainz has been a man on a mission since the crushing blow of losing his drive.
His victory in Australia came just two weeks after he underwent an appendectomy that forced him to miss the Saudi Arabian GP. Overall, he’s scored podiums in three of the four races he’s started.
Having out-scored Leclerc three times, he’s just seven points behind him in the standings despite his Jeddah absence. His form has been so electric that some, including former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, have questioned whether Ferrari made the right decision.
Lewis Hamilton offers verdict on Carlos Sainz
Speaking in the drivers’ press conference at the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton was full of praise for Sainz as a driver and an individual. He applauded the ‘progress’ he’d made this year after witnessing arguably his best performances.
Hamilton, and possibly Max Verstappen, may have been the only drivers who could have prompted Ferrari to change their line-up. The 39-year-old has won 103 Grands Prix and took 104 pole positions in the most decorated career F1 has ever seen.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Carlos, it’s been great to see his progress on the track and he’s got a great bond with his Dad which I can relate to,” he said. “He’s got a great sense of humour, seems a relaxed guy.”
Where will Carlos Sainz go in 2025?
There’s a small possibility that Mercedes and Ferrari will perform an inadvertent driver swap. Sainz has held talks with the Silver Arrows, but there’s a key difference in opinion over contract length.
He wants a guaranteed multi-year deal, but Toto Wolff is only willing to 100% commit to a single season. That’s because he wants to leave room for academy driver Kimi Antonelli or world champion Verstappen for 2026.
After his experience at Ferrari, Sainz may want to join a team where he feels more valued. He’s unlikely to get that at Red Bull, where the team is built around Verstappen.
He’ll be keenly aware of that reality, having been ‘hurt’ by the manner in which they prioritised the Dutchman during their time together at Toro Rosso. There could be too much baggage there.
That leaves Audi as his standout option. It’s not an especially attractive destination on paper – Sauber, the team they’re acquiring for 2026, haven’t scored a single point this year.
But they will arrive with significant funds and plenty of ambition, targeting titles by 2031. Despite what he’s done on track, there’s no perfect option for Sainz, and a gamble on Audi currently looks his likeliest route.
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