These days mark a historic moment in Formula 1 with Hamilton’s debut at Ferrari, but Fred Vasseur remains mindful of the valuable contributions Carlos Sainz made over the past four seasons. In an exclusive interview with DAZN F1, the Ferrari team principal shared his thoughts on the Spanish driver and what he brought to the team.
Fred Vasseur emphasized the importance of the “human factor” in Sainz’s contributions. “Sharing the garage with Charles Leclerc was significant, but his relationship with the entire team was just as crucial,” Fred Vasseur said. This camaraderie enabled Sainz to build strong connections within the team, which were essential to Ferrari’s overall performance.
Lewis Hamilton arrives, but Carlos Sainz is not forgotten
Fred Vasseur also highlighted Sainz’s consistency on track: “Carlos is always at 100% and very reliable. That was a great advantage for us.” His support was crucial, as when SCarlos ainz wasn’t fighting at the front, it often indicated the car itself wasn’t performing at its best – “The things I appreciated most about Carlos are his human qualities, shown both in his collaboration with Charles and in the relationships he built with team members, as well as his consistency. He is very steady and always in top form. This was a great advantage for us. On days when he seemed uncompetitive, it wasn’t his fault but the car’s. This allowed us to push forward with the car’s development.”
With the announcement that Carlos Sainz will drive for Williams next season, Fred Vasseur expressed confidence in the driver’s future: “Carlos will do an excellent job with Williams. I wish him and James Vowles all the best.”
The upcoming championship will also bring significant changes for Ferrari, with the recent addition of Lewis Hamilton to the team. Fred Vasseur expressed optimism about the arrival of the British driver: “He has the adaptability we need and is a seasoned veteran of this sport. Because of this, he will easily integrate with the team.”
