Ferrari: Carlos Sainz warns that Lewis Hamilton faces an unsolvable core issue

Carlos Sainz Suggests Lewis Hamilton May Not Have Enough Time at Ferrari to Return to His Peak

As Lewis Hamilton approaches his 10th Grand Prix as a Ferrari Formula 1 driver at the Canadian GP, which takes place this weekend at the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, he is still in search of his first podium finish on a Sunday. This slow start stands in stark contrast to Carlos Sainz’s own debut season with Ferrari in 2021, when the Spaniard secured a podium within just five races. The Spaniard went on to claim four podiums that year and finished fifth in the drivers’ standings.

Back in 2021, Ferrari were largely bystanders in the title battle dominated by Mercedes and Red Bull. Now, history appears to be repeating itself. Despite Ferrari’s hopes at the start of the season, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc already seem out of the championship fight, while Max Verstappen now finds himself trying to fend off the increasingly competitive McLarens.

Lewis Hamilton, once renowned for extracting the absolute maximum even when his machinery was lacking, now finds his success closely tied to the overall performance of the team. In the few moments this season when Ferrari have delivered a truly competitive package, the seven-time world champion has shown flashes of his old brilliance—winning the Sprint in China and charging from 12th to fourth in Imola. However, overall, both the driver and the team have underperformed relative to expectations.

Carlos Sainz Believes Hamilton May Not Have Time to Reach His Best at Ferrari

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Carlos Sainz was once again asked to comment on Hamilton’s ongoing adaptation to life at Ferrari. With the high-profile nature of Hamilton’s switch, it was inevitable that the Spaniard—whose seat he will take—would be questioned about his successor’s challenges, regardless of the results.

Carlos Sainz has had his own challenges adjusting to a new environment. Now at Williams, he collected only one point and managed just a single Q3 appearance in his first three races with the team. Although trailing teammate Alex Albon in the standings (42 points to 12), Sainz has made visible progress, with three top-six qualifying performances indicating growing comfort behind the wheel.

Despite this, the Spanish driver maintains that a Formula 1 driver needs between four and five years with a team to fully unlock their peak potential. At 40 years old and signed on an initial two-year contract, Lewis Hamilton may not have the luxury of that much time at Ferrari. Carlos Sainz noted that while the Briton had the benefit of continuity during his six years at McLaren and twelve seasons at Mercedes, the same stability may be harder to come by now.

Carlos Sainz pointed to several top drivers as examples of how long-term integration helps maximise performance. He cited Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris—adding that Oscar Piastri, now in his third season, is already showing strong development. According to Carlos Sainz, the key to elite performance lies in the deep understanding between a driver and their team, which can only be built over time. This includes a close relationship with engineers, alignment on working methods, and consistent backing from the organisation—none of which come immediately.

He emphasised that it is unrealistic to expect a new arrival to instantly outperform a teammate who is already deeply embedded within the team’s ecosystem. He highlighted that in both his own situation and Hamilton’s, it is nearly impossible to step into a team and immediately outclass someone like Leclerc or Albon, who are not only quick but also thoroughly integrated.

Sainz Previously Compared Hamilton’s Ferrari Move to Ricciardo’s McLaren Struggles

Earlier in the month, Sainz drew a parallel between Hamilton’s current challenge at Ferrari and Daniel Ricciardo’s troubled stint at McLaren, where adaptation proved to be far more complex than initially anticipated. In a twist of fate, Daniel Ricciardo had taken Sainz’s seat at McLaren. That particular move ended poorly, with the team terminating Ricciardo’s contract after just two seasons. Sainz seemed to imply that even a driver of Hamilton’s calibre is not immune to the same challenges of integration and adaptation.

Lewis Hamilton, of course, will be determined to write his own ending, not have it written for him. Yet Carlos Sainz’s point remains: success in modern Formula 1 is not just about talent—it’s about time, trust, and teamwork.

Now 30 years old, the Spanish driver is focused on a long-term project with Williams. The team has shown signs of resurgence and currently sits fifth in the constructors’ championship. With major regulation changes on the horizon for 2026, Williams is investing in the future, hoping to make a significant leap forward. While Sky Sports commentator David Croft has said Red Bull made a mistake by not signing Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard remains confident he can win with his new team at Grove.