Aside from Lewis Hamilton's hysteria, there is one man within Ferrari who feels he is treated worse than anyone else.
Carlos Sainz, who has been driving for Ferrari since 2021, was a notable addition for the Italian constructor.
In the statement announcing Hamilton's arrival, Sainz was not mentioned once. I can't thank you enough for your efforts and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Of course, more will be said behind closed doors, but as details of Ferrari's pursuit of Hamilton emerge, Sainz will feel like he is fighting a losing battle.
Ferrari have initially set their sights on Hamilton for the seat in 2023, suggesting that negotiations would have taken place in 2022 at the latest, or alternatively just a year after Sainz's arrival. are doing. It was during that season that Sainz took his first win, a year earlier when he became the only non-Red Bull driver to do so.
Three days after the announcement, the only public confirmation of Sainz's departure is a tweet that read: “We still have one more season to get it all done.”
Ferrari are perfectly justified in pursuing Hamilton, as is substituting Sainz rather than Charles Leclef. In the former case, he would become the team's first world champion in five years. He is a true superstar and is expected to take the team to a new level.
But it's not just his athletic credentials. There hasn't been a star like Lewis Hamilton since Michael Schumacher. For many, F1 is Hamilton, and the way Thursday's news spread across demographics was proof of that.
And as for why Sainz is leaving instead of Leclerc, Ferrari have already gotten rid of Sebastian Vettel to make room for Leclerc, who clearly sees him as the team's future.
Unsurprisingly, Leclerc's ability often ranks among the best on the grid, and he is currently knocking on that door, even if he is not yet in the league of Verstappen or Hamilton.
So there's no appreciation for that decision, but rather the attitude and the disrespect shown towards a driver who has only done good things for the team.
Compare this to McLaren's reaction to Sainz's departure in 2020. Although the Spaniard played just two seasons in the working team and was statistically worse off than he had been at Ferrari, they still recorded a farewell video asking Ferrari for more. Treat him well. That request clearly fell on deaf ears.
It's not just the way he left the club, but also the way Sainz cooperated with Hamilton, who was working on a contract with him behind closed doors. Even by the end of the 2023 season, team principal Fred Vasseur has assured the media that signing Sainz is on the to-do list, and in the meantime John Elkann has crossed the T on signing Hamilton. We knew we were going to hit IS.
To what extent Sainz was aware of this, only he and his representatives will know, but if Sainz was kept in the dark, it wouldn't be a good thing for Ferrari, and if Sainz was in 2025. It will hurt your chances of getting a seat. .
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Where will Carlos Sainz go in 2025?
Fortunately for Sainz, he has 13 seats to win in 2025, so he has plenty of options.
The obvious player to exclude is Visa RB, who will likely use Yuki Tsunoda or Daniel Ricciardo and bring in Liam Lawson. Haas have two spots available, but unless they show significant improvement this season they will be the least attractive team to join.
Sainz is probably the best driver available for Mercedes, but that also seems like an unlikely destination, as it doesn't look good to sign a driver who was rejected by a team that just poached a superstar.
His former team, Red Bull, has a vacancy, but it is doubtful they will choose to bring Sainz, considering they already have a number of drivers.
Barring a shock move to Mercedes, Sainz's compatriot Fernando Alonso looks certain to extend his contract with Aston Martin, while Lance Stroll's continued contract is unlikely to be terminated anytime soon. .
This also seems an unlikely route, as Alpine have two drivers who are younger and better suited to the brand than Sainz, and who have only one fewer win.
So obviously the competition is Stake. The rebranded Sauber team is in an interim period until Audi arrives in 2026, but who is already driving for Audi? Sainz's father.
Sainz is likely to be open to this project now that the door has been closed on Ferrari, as the German constructor could be a game-changer in 2026 with its own power unit supply.
Time will tell how Sainz ends up, but I hope wherever he goes he will be treated with more respect than he was at Ferrari.
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