Before the 2024 F1 season started, Carlos Sainz Jr already knew that his departure from Ferrari was finalized. The Scuderia had just formalized the arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc for 2025. The announcement of the transfer of the seven-time world champion also put the Italian team in a rather delicate situation vis-à-vis the Spanish pilot.
The first transfer of 2025 in F1 was announced before the 2024 season started. Indeed, Ferrari very quickly formalized the arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion has decided to end 12 years of collaboration with Mercedes to join the Scuderia. But his transfer inevitably pushed Carlos Sainz Jr towards the exit. This also caused an ordeal for Ferrariwho was in a rather uncomfortable situation when announcing to the Spaniard that he had to leave.
“His contribution was very important”
« I know it wasn’t easy for him when he learned we wouldn’t be renewing his contract, but Carlos remained focused and professional, helping the team fight until the last corner of the last lap of the last race in Abu Dhabi. His contribution was very important for the improvement of the team » thus revealed Frederic Vasseur in comments reported by NextGen-Auto.
“It was a difficult situation”
« I know it wasn’t an easy situation for him, when I had to call him in February and tell him that Lewis would be coming in his place. You can imagine it was a difficult situation. But he knew how to keep the same approach all year round, to be very professional, very dedicated, to fight until the last corner of the last lap of the last race » then added the boss of Ferrari. Replaced by Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz Jr ended up finding a base in F1. The 30-year-old driver will play at Williams next season.
