The 2024 Formula 1 championship was shaping up to be an unusual season for Carlos Sainz: one year of having to race being aware that he would no longer continue with the Maranello team beyond the end of the season as Ferrari decided not to renew his contract, despite the excellent results they achieved together. Yet, the desire for revenge, or simply the ambition to find a prestigious seat, led him to an extraordinary start, securing a victory at the Albert Park circuit in Australia and two other podium finishes. The news of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival came as a bolt from the blue for him too (although, of course, he knew before the public did), and in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport’s weekly magazine Sportweek, the Spaniard did not hide his frustration.
“It feels strange to leave. The three seasons spent in Maranello, the hard work, living there, and the hours at the headquarters have helped the team grow. Now we are seeing the fruits, the car is better, and I feel more confident driving it after all the feedback from the past years. I’m happy with how this year is going, but also sad because I won’t be able to continue on this path. We made the right decisions for the future, as seen on the track, but such is life. It wasn’t my decision, but perhaps there will be better ones. Looking at my career, the decisions to leave Toro Rosso, Renault, and McLaren made sense. Maybe in a bit, I’ll look back and see the positives,” said the driver, who did not hide his admiration for the fans: “Racing for Ferrari has shown me the passion people have for the Scuderia.”
Visiting the Gresini box to watch the Marquez brothers race in MotoGP at the Jerez circuit, Carlos Sainz spoke again about his upcoming departure from Ferrari at the end of the season: “Do I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster? I’m up at the moment in the sporting aspect. I think I’ve had a good start to the season. I’m driving well and giving my all for Ferrari. However, I’m a bit down because I won’t continue with them, and I would have liked to stay many more years.”
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Regarding his potential destination for 2025, Carlos Sainz commented: “I need to look at all the offers. I haven’t decided yet where to go in my mind.”
With the official renewal of Fernando Alonso with Aston Martin and Nico Hulkenberg’s move to Sauber (which will become Audi in 2026), the drivers’ market is heating up even more, and Carlos Sainz might be the next to make a move in the coming weeks. The option of Mercedes remains very much alive for him, with Audi, after applying significant pressure, now seeming to opt for waiting after having officially signed the Haas driver.
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