Carlos Sainz was all of a sudden dropped by Ferrari as they introduced the signing of Lewis Hamilton in February 2024, with the Spaniard blindsided and left missing an evidence
Carlos Sainz has revealed that Ferrari didn’t clarify why once they advised him he would get replaced by Lewis Hamilton. The Method One world was rocked in February 2024 when it emerged that the seven-time world champion could be becoming a member of the enduring Italian group, partnering up with Charles Leclerc.
Sainz, who was caught utterly off guard by the announcement, had been beneath the impression that his future at Maranello was safe. The Spanish driver, 30, was within the midst of contract renewal talks, along with his deal set to expire after the 2024 season.
He completed the season with the Scuderia earlier than becoming a member of Williams for the present 2025 marketing campaign, whereas Hamilton bid farewell to Mercedes, the place he had loved probably the most profitable driver-team partnership in F1 historical past.
Sainz has now opened up in regards to the stunning second he was advised of Fred Vasseur’s choice over a cellphone name, voicing his disbelief and noting the dearth of solutions he was given by the group relating to his axing.
He defined on the Excessive Efficiency Podcast: “I obtained a cellphone name and I all of a sudden obtained the information. I used to be utterly shocked. I went from believing I used to be going to be in Ferrari for some time to, ‘What am I going to do now?’
“It by no means occurred to me that that might occur.” When requested whether or not they gave him any causes, he added: “No, probably not. There weren’t many causes.
“I’m not going to go rather a lot into the element of these conversations however I used to be like, ‘Okay now it’s my time to shine and to show to everybody what I’m price. It’s a very powerful second of my life now.’
“I went into that late February and March interval with the mentality of I’m simply going to go for it. That gave me a little bit of a kick and I feel it made me a greater driver.”
Sainz’s earlier season had resulted in a disappointing seventh positioned end within the drivers’ championship, which can have been one cause for Ferrari reconsidering his future.
Sainz then entered talks with Sauber, Alpine and even Mercedes, doubtlessly changing Hamilton in a dramatic swap. However regardless of prolonged discussions with Toto Wolff, he admits it was by no means a critical risk.
Requested whether or not he was on the verge of securing a contract supply, he stated: “Not likely. We spoke rather a lot with Toto and everybody else on the time and I used to be definitely one of many choices that was thought-about. However how shut was I? You may ask Toto that. However I feel he’s very proud of Kimi Antonelli.”
Each Sainz and Hamilton have confronted challenges adapting to their new groups this season. Regardless of being midway via the marketing campaign, Hamilton is but to clinch a podium end and sits sixth within the standings, whereas Sainz finds himself in a disappointing fifteenth place.
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