Sainz admitted that while Hamilton’s arrival makes Ferrari stronger, he was initially “hurt” by the team’s decision to replace him.
Carlos Sainz has officially stepped into his next Formula 1 chapter, taking his first laps in the 2025 Williams FW47 at Silverstone last Friday.
The Spaniard, who was unexpectedly pushed out of Ferrari to make room for Lewis Hamilton, opened up about his departure and his thoughts on the changes at his former team.
Sainz admitted that Ferrari was already on the cusp of championship contention when he left.
He believes Hamilton’s arrival only strengthens their chances.
Will Hamilton help Ferrari’s championship hopes?
Speaking to media after his initial Williams run, he addressed whether the seven-time world champion could be the key to bringing Ferrari back to the top.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Sainz said. “I’ve never been team-mates with Lewis, so I don’t know what he’s capable of doing. I’ve never seen his data.”
He adds: “I’ve seen Charles [Leclerc] and I know how good Charles is, but I’ve never been team-mates with Lewis.
“And the only way you can more or less evaluate a driver is when you’re their team-mate and you see what they’re capable of doing.”
Sainz acknowledged Hamilton’s record speaks for itself but emphasised the unpredictability of Formula 1.
“When I judge by results and his background and what he’s achieved, I can only say there is a very high chance that obviously he is going to be competitive at Ferrari.
“But like everything, it will all depend on how well you can adapt to a car, how well you can adapt to a team and in which moment your team-mate is in.
“There are so many variables that it is impossible for me to predict.
“I can only say when I left Ferrari, I did feel the team – both Ferrari and Charles – were ready to fight for a World Championship.
“And with Lewis joining, that chance only got increased.”
Leaving Ferrari for good
Sainz’s exit from Ferrari wasn’t on his own terms. At the time of Hamilton’s signing, the Spaniard was in talks to extend his contract with the Scuderia. The sudden shift left him reeling, but in hindsight, he acknowledges why the team decided.
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast late last year, Sainz admitted: “I understand [Ferrari’s choice] and I think I understood it almost right from the beginning.
“I think, if it had been someone else, I would have taken a lot longer to understand.
“But when you understand Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, and one of the best – if not the best – in history, is going to replace you at Ferrari, and Lewis has decided to do the last part of his career in Ferrari, you need to be one of the two drivers sacrificed for that to happen.”
Sainz also acknowledged that Leclerc was never in danger of losing his seat, given his long-term commitment to Ferrari.
“I understand it was never going to be Charles [who was replaced].
“Charles has been the project of Ferrari ever since he’s been a junior driver. He’s been the centre of the project for many years.
“I arrived at Ferrari more as a substitute of [Sebastian] Vettel, almost a bit… not by chance, but circumstantial, rather than Charles who has been there forever.
“So I understood I had to be the one being replaced and I understood it from the beginning.
“I just obviously didn’t agree so much at the time. But you end up agreeing and you end up getting on with it.”
Sainz admits he was “hurt”
While intellectually understanding the reasoning, Sainz admitted that the emotional side was harder to process.
“I think I said on the radio [after winning] in Australia that this life is such a rollercoaster.”
Sainz explains: “I remember being very emotional on that Australian Grand Prix podium because there was my dad there, there was obviously my manager, my girlfriend and everyone who’s been next to me. I was obviously thinking about my mum and they’ve all seen me suffer during the winter.
“When I say suffer, I don’t mean I was crying behind closed doors, but I was actually hurt. I was hurt because I didn’t expect it. I wasn’t prepared for that kind of news.”
Sainz adds: “I was a bit in shock for a while. And then I regrouped and got training again.
“But I remember after that win in Australia, thinking about how lucky I am [for] the people that I have around me, supporting me and giving me that inner strength to overcome what was a tough moment at the time.
“[But] now when I look back at it, I’m almost happy, proud that it happened. Because it made me a much better driver and a much better athlete in general.
A fresh start at Williams
With his Ferrari chapter now firmly behind him, Sainz is determined to prove himself again—this time at Williams. The British team has been on a steady rise in recent seasons. Sainz is eager to be part of their resurgence.
His first run in the FW47 at Silverstone marked the beginning of that journey, and while he knows the road ahead won’t be easy, he’s ready for the challenge.
“Just get on with it. I remember I kept telling myself to just get on with it and just do your thing.”
Now, the focus shifts to the 2025 season, where Sainz hopes to turn the page and write a new success story with Williams.
Feature Image Credit: Williams Racing
