Carlos Sainz admitted he knew Ferrari would by no means substitute Charles Leclerc when Lewis Hamilton grew to become out there, acknowledging that the staff had at all times centered its undertaking across the Monegasque.
After Ferrari introduced in February that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will substitute Carlos Sainz from 2025, the Spaniard has been linked with a number of outfits.
Following month-long paddock chatter, the talks resulted in August when Williams confirmed that they secured the companies of the three-time F1 race winner who will be part of the Grove-based outfit from Ferrari on a two-year settlement with choices to increase.
Reflecting on his preliminary feelings after the announcement, Sainz has acknowledged that he first struggled to just accept Ferrari’s choice, however he later got here to phrases with it.
“I perceive it was by no means going to be Charles. Charles has been the undertaking of Ferrari ever since he’s been a junior driver. He’s been the middle of the undertaking for a few years.”
“While you perceive Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, and top-of-the-line – if not the perfect – in historical past, goes to interchange you at Ferrari… It is advisable be one of many two drivers sacrificed for that to occur.”
“I might sit right here and say, ‘No, I wasn’t indignant with anybody,’ however, on the time once they offer you this information, you’re indignant. You don’t perceive it. You curse, you don’t perceive something that has occurred to you.”
Regardless of Ferrari’s choice, the Spaniard managed to recover from the setback to ship a collection of sensational performances. The Madrid-born driver confirmed a dominant kind within the third race of the yr to take a surprising victory on the Australian Grand Prix earlier than dominating the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix within the closing phases of final season.
“I bear in mind being very emotional on that Australian Grand Prix podium as a result of… they’ve all seen me endure through the winter. Once I say endure, I don’t imply I used to be crying behind closed doorways, however I used to be really harm.”
“I informed them what I believed and moved on and promised them that I used to be going to present my very best for Ferrari, although all this has occurred within the final yr,” concluded Sainz.
