Relief for Carlos Sainz as the major fear he had after his departure from Ferrari proves unfounded

Carlos Sainz’s shock Ferrari exit reshaped the Formula 1 grid — but his biggest fear about leaving Maranello has not become reality

The departure of Carlos Sainz from Ferrari stunned the Formula 1 paddock, largely because his replacement was confirmed to be none other than seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The announcement arrived even before the 2024 Formula 1 season began, abruptly shifting the storyline surrounding the Spaniard just as he had helped steer Ferrari back toward consistent podium contention. Carlos Sainz had famously delivered the only non-Red Bull victory of the 2023 campaign with his masterful win in Singapore, reinforcing the belief that Ferrari were edging closer to fighting for championships again.

But despite the momentum he created, Carlos Sainz suddenly found his seat gone. The arrival of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes for the 2025 season forced Sainz into an unexpected and difficult career crossroads. While he entertained substantial interest from Alpine and Sauber — the latter preparing for its transformation into Audi — he ultimately committed to Williams. That decision sparked immediate concern among fans and analysts. After all, Williams had finished a lowly ninth in the 2024 constructors’ standings with only 17 points, while Ferrari, propelled by the efforts of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, had finished just 14 points shy of the championship. Carlos Sainz, who captured two Grand Prix wins that season, would effectively be moving from a front-running giant to a team recovering from years at the bottom of the grid.

Carlos Sainz has since acknowledged that he deeply misses the thrill of competing at the sharp end of the field. Yet the contrast between the two camps in 2025 paints a surprisingly different picture. Morale in Grove appears healthier than in Maranello, with Williams showing signs of revival while Ferrari have struggled through one of their most difficult seasons in recent memory.

Lewis Hamilton, who stepped into the seat Carlos Sainz vacated, has found Ferrari’s environment far more challenging than anticipated. F1 insiders have suggested that Lewis Hamilton is missing the technical guidance and refinement that the Spaniard brought to the team during his tenure. The British driver has struggled to adapt to the unique handling characteristics of the Ferrari package and to the team’s established development structure. In stark contrast, Carlos Sainz has taken that same engineering mindset to Williams, delivering two remarkable podium finishes despite driving a car that is, on paper, significantly less competitive.

Carlos Sainz once feared Ferrari would fight for the 2025 F1 title without him — now he knows that worry never materialised

When Carlos Sainz said farewell to Ferrari, he admitted that one scenario genuinely worried him: the possibility that Ferrari might suddenly transform into a championship contender the year after he left. Speaking at the end of the 2024 season, he noted through comments reported by Crash that it would be painful to watch Ferrari fighting for both the constructors’ and drivers’ titles knowing he had played a major role in shaping the team’s upward trajectory.

Carlos Sainz had emphasised at the time that he loved immersing himself in the technical side of the job — living in Maranello, contributing to the car’s development and planning, and helping build the long-term vision. He explained that winning a championship was his ultimate objective when he arrived in 2021, and he still believed Ferrari had a legitimate shot at the constructors’ crown in 2024. His biggest concern was that Ferrari would reach the peak he had worked toward just as he departed, leaving him watching from afar while starting again toward the back with Williams.

But as the 2025 season concludes, that fear has proven unfounded. Ferrari have endured a disastrous campaign, locking in a distant fourth place in the constructors’ standings with no wins and a huge performance deficit to the top teams. Meanwhile, Williams have surged forward, securing fifth place thanks in part to Carlos Sainz’s podium in Qatar — a result that further solidified his growing influence inside the team. The Spaniard has even expressed quiet satisfaction that he remains Ferrari’s most recent Grand Prix winner, a symbolic reminder of the impact he made before leaving Maranello.

Could Carlos Sainz reunite with Ferrari in the future?

After a slow start to his Williams adventure — with points in only six of the first sixteen races — the Spanish driver has found a strong rhythm in the latter part of the 2025 season. His stock has risen dramatically as the sport approaches the major technical overhaul set for 2026, with several top Formula 1 teams reportedly eyeing him for a 2027 seat.

Sources within the paddock suggest that Ferrari are among the teams evaluating a potential reunion. With Lewis Hamilton’s contract likely to end after the 2026 season, speculation has intensified that Ferrari may consider bringing Carlos Sainz back to Maranello once the new regulatory cycle stabilises. Reports indicate that the Spaniard would welcome such an opportunity and might even return “without hesitation,” though only under specific timing conditions.

Carlos Sainz is said to be open to returning to Ferrari, but only “in the distant future,” a phrase understood to mean after he has fully evaluated the performance of teams under the 2026 regulations. Williams are investing heavily in their long-term project, and the 31-year-old is intrigued by the team’s potential. Still, the allure of Ferrari — combined with his unfinished business at Maranello — means a reunion remains a real possibility.

For now, Carlos Sainz can take solace in knowing that the doomsday scenario he once worried about never arrived. Instead of watching Ferrari surge forward without him, he has watched Williams rise while Ferrari falter — turning what many viewed as a risky move into one of the most intriguing storylines of the 2025 Formula 1 season.