Ex-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz reveals unexpected setting for signing his contract with Maranello team in 2020. Carlos Sainz shares the unusual moment he signed his Ferrari contract ahead of the 2021 season.

For the first time in half a decade, Carlos Sainz will not feature on the Formula 1 grid wearing Ferrari’s iconic red in 2025.

Carlos Sainz’s exit from the Scuderia was confirmed before he even had the opportunity to stake his claim for a contract renewal. In a move that sent ripples through the paddock, Ferrari announced weeks ahead of the 2024 season opener in Bahrain that they had secured Lewis Hamilton’s services for 2025.

Losing his seat to the most successful driver in F1 history was a tough pill to swallow for the Spaniard, who had become a steady presence at Ferrari since joining in 2021.

Carlos Sainz’s F1 journey began in 2015, but his pre-Ferrari career lacked the same spark. Solid but unspectacular stints with Toro Rosso, Renault, and McLaren built a respectable foundation, but it wasn’t until his Ferrari tenure that he truly began to shine, claiming his maiden F1 victory in 2022.

Reflecting on Ferrari’s decision to replace him with Hamilton, the Spaniard has expressed his understanding of the move. However, his new chapter at Williams in 2025 will undoubtedly present a starkly different challenge as he aims to rebuild his career.

Interestingly, Carlos Sainz recounted the memorable and unconventional moment when he signed with Ferrari, replacing Sebastian Vettel. After departing McLaren, the Spaniard sealed his Ferrari deal while still in his pyjamas, a detail he shared in an interview with Autoracer. Joining Ferrari to partner Charles Leclerc was a significant step in Carlos Sainz’s career, marking a new phase that ultimately spanned four eventful seasons.

Comparing Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari career to Charles Leclerc’s after the pivotal 2025 driver decision highlights contrasting fortunes for the two teammates. Entering 2024, Ferrari faced a critical juncture with both drivers’ contracts nearing expiration.

Leclerc’s renewal was finalized in late January, signaling the team’s confidence in his leadership. Meanwhile, negotiations on Sainz’s future appeared to be advancing. However, the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s signing with Ferrari just days later abruptly changed the landscape, leaving Sainz sidelined.

Over their four seasons together, Leclerc consistently outperformed Carlos Sainz, establishing himself as the stronger of the pair. Despite this, their partnership was regarded as one of the most balanced and effective on the grid. In 2024, Leclerc ended the season 66 points ahead of Carlos Sainz—a narrower margin compared to the gaps between the driver pairings at McLaren and Red Bull. This reinforced team principal Frederic Vasseur’s decision to retain Leclerc as Ferrari’s long-term lead driver.

Sainz’s contributions to Ferrari’s resurgence as championship contenders cannot be understated, and the Spaniard likely harbored disappointment at missing out on reaping the rewards of his efforts. Nevertheless, his move to Williams presents a fresh challenge, with the Grove-based team eager to leverage his expertise in car development—a skill they urgently need to accelerate their progress.

Now at Williams, the Spanish driver faces the task of outperforming his new teammate Alex Albon and proving that Ferrari’s decision to replace him with Hamilton was a mistake. For Carlos Sainz, success in this next chapter could redefine his legacy in Formula 1.