Fred Vasseur may come to regret his choice to release Carlos Sainz at the conclusion of this season in favor of Lewis Hamilton.
Carlos Sainz (Left), Lewis Hamilton (Right), Fred Vasseur (Center) (images via IMAGO).
The move of Sainz to Ferrari from 2025 will result in Hamilton being ousted from the Italian team in the upcoming season. The Spaniard is currently without a seat for next year. The decision to remove Sainz from the team was a difficult one for Team Principal Vasseur. However, F1 presenter Brundle believed that Vasseur would not show any regret over the decision.
Sainz has been performing exceptionally well in the 2024 season compared to most of the other top drivers on the grid. He even secured a victory at the Australian GP. Brundle mentioned that even if Vasseur realized that he made a mistake by letting go of Sainz, he would not display it. Brundle explained that the choice had been made and Ferrari broke up an exceptional partnership between Hamilton and Sainz.
In addition to this, Brundle did not hesitate to acknowledge that Ferrari made this decision because they had the opportunity to acquire Hamilton. Hamilton’s seven title wins overshadowed Sainz’s recent performances, resulting in the Spaniard’s departure. Furthermore, Brundle explained that despite discussing the situation all day, Vasseur and Hamilton could not find a solution. Ferrari’s decision was final and could not be altered.
Charles Leclerc has more points than Carlos Sainz this season. However, Sainz missed out on valuable points in Saudi Arabia due to an appendicitis injury. Former F1 driver Bousten reflected on the differences between the two drivers. Bousten claimed that Sainz never had the same level of dominance in F1 as Leclerc. Additionally, Bousten asserted that the two drivers were in completely different circumstances.
Furthermore, Bousten emphasized the contract situation for both drivers in the upcoming season. Therefore, Sainz will have to make the most of his remaining time at Ferrari to secure a good seat for the following season. However, Bousten mentioned that he would prefer Leclerc over Sainz. The reason being that the mentality and pressure on both drivers were different. Sainz is believed to be in contact with Audi for next year.
Regardless of the circumstances next year, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will strive to achieve the best possible results for Ferrari. Maranello has minimized errors since the start of the season. However, it remains to be seen where Sainz will go in 2025.