At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Lewis Hamilton will depart Mercedes and join Ferrari, the rival Formula One team, leaving Carlos Sainz without a race seat for the upcoming season.
Carlos Sainz acknowledged that the news has affected him ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season, but he also hinted that he knew Ferrari intended to replace him with Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz is getting ready for the Scuderia’s fourth season. However, now that it has been confirmed that Hamilton has decided to leave Mercedes in order to join Maranello, it will also be his last.
Sainz will give way to the seven-time world champion Charles Leclerc, who signed a new contract extension just last month. On the day of Hamilton’s announcement, he made a brief social media statement confirming as much.
But the Spaniard has since provided more specific information about the circumstances. In an interview with Sky Italy, he promised to use his emotions over the choice to fuel the upcoming campaign and, ideally, end his Ferrari career on a high note.
“No, I wasn’t disappointed,” he remarked. Having been inside Ferrari, I already knew a few things, and I worked with the team to get ready for more changes down the road. My thoughts are only going to be focused on how I can give Ferrari my all this season.
“It’s not the best way to start the season, but as soon as I put on my helmet in Bahrain and take to the track, my only emotion will be the drive to keep pushing forward and win the championship.
“I’m very at ease when I look to the future because I know how valuable I am as a driver. Good things will come, no doubt, but for now, I just want to give it my all with Ferrari.”
Sainz had promised supporters something similar before. He announced on social media that he and Scuderia Ferrari would be splitting ways at the end of 2024. We still have a long season ahead of us, but as always, I promise to give it everything I’ve got for the team and the Tifosi worldwide.”
The 29-year-old’scomposureregarding his future is well-founded; Audi is especially interested in appointing him as the lead driver for their upcoming Formula One project in 2026. Jean Alesi, a former Ferrari favorite who expressed disapproval over Sainz’s release, is likewise unconcerned about Sainz’s position on the grid.
Alesi stated: “[Sainz is] a genuine gentleman of motorsports who is unhappy and unjustly placed in this situation right now. Given his skill and the notoriety he has earned from racing beside Leclerc, I have no doubt that he will find new opportunities to stay on the grid.”
