The triumph in Australia fuels yet another round of criticism from the Spanish media towards Ferrari: a jab in defense of Carlos Sainz and an attack on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
From the Miami GP 2023 to date, only two drivers have won in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. These are Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the year to make way for a Lewis Hamilton: from Spain, the daily newspaper Marca seizes the opportunity to criticize the Italian team.
Singapore 2023 and Australia 2024 are the only exceptions: since May 7th last year, the F1 scepter has been firmly in the hands of an impeccable Max Verstappen. The Dutch world champion continues without limits for nearly a year, marked only by the aforementioned moments. On both occasions, it was Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, in his final season with the Maranello team, who broke the Dutchman’s spell.
Despite convincing performances and consistent growth, the Prancing Horse has chosen not to extend the agreement with #55. The reason lies in the tantalizing opportunity to sign seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton: the Englishman will arrive at Ferrari next year, taking Carlos Sainz’s place, a move that did not sit well with the Spanish press, especially Marca.
Goodbye Carlos Sainz, here comes Lewis Hamilton: Marca hits out
Analyzing the Australian race, the first Ferrari one-two in Melbourne since 2004, the Spanish daily newspaper does not shy away from showing its bitterness towards Fred Vasseur’s team. Caros Sainz’s masterpiece – according to the Spaniards – “would deserve a documentary, if only a Brit like Hamilton had accomplished it,” they quip.
Marca’s criticisms are not veiled: “In the offices of Maranello, or rather Turin, they decided to do away with what is now their best driver (ahead of Charles Leclerc throughout all of 2023),” the newspaper specifies. “They do this to take on a driver in clear decline,” it reads in reference to Lewis Hamilton, “a decline not so much in talent as in attitude.”
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For the Spaniards, the purpose of the Hamilton-Ferrari deal is clear: “It is not based on sporting criteria, but on marketing. Godspeed! Lewis Hamilton’s retirement occurred when he was well behind George Russell. He is no longer at the top of the Mercedes hierarchy, and most likely will not be able to beat the Monegasque in 2025.”
“The star of Ferrari is Sainz. Leclerc, excuses and weaknesses”
“Carlos Sainz is the only one who has beaten Red Bull in the last 30 races,” Marca reminds. “Now there’s another winner, the only one who seems able to challenge Max Verstappen for the championship is Carlos Sainz. Charles Leclerc started the year decidedly behind the Spaniard, who cannot be stopped, not even by illness.”
The brakes in Bahrain were for Charles Leclerc – according to the Iberian media – “an excuse that he no longer has.” Carlos Sainz “is better at reading the race and maximizing results. In this, Leclerc has always been weak.”
Marca is sure: “The star of Ferrari is Sainz. He speaks on the track and he does so loudly, while off the track, he is a gentleman.”
Source: f1ingenerale
