Sainz reveals Ferrari blindsided him with Hamilton bombshell – Carlos Sainz has opened up on the emotional rollercoaster that came with his shock Ferrari exit, revealing that he was left “completely shocked” by the Scuderia’s decision to replace him with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

In a candid conversation on The High Performance Podcast, the Spaniard gave a rare glimpse behind the scarlet curtain at Maranello, describing how contract talks that once looked promising took a sharp, unexpected turn—ultimately leading to one of the biggest driver transfers in F1 history.

 

From contract confidence to chaos

At the start of 2024, when Ferrari unveiled their headline-grabbing signing of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the paddock wasn’t the only place reeling in disbelief. Sainz, who was still racing for the Prancing Horse at the time, had fully expected to remain with the team beyond the expiry of his contract at the end of the year.

“I was completely shocked,” Sainz admitted, still sounding slightly dazed months later. “I thought I was going to be at Ferrari, and suddenly Lewis is replacing me. What am I supposed to do now? I never expected this to happen.”

It was a move that caught the entire sport off guard, but perhaps no one more than Sainz himself. Talks about renewing his Ferrari deal had been ongoing since the previous October, and while negotiations slowed, he remained optimistic.

“They kept postponing the signing and agreement,” Sainz explained. “But I never had a bad feeling about it. Every piece of feedback I got was: ‘We’re definitely going to continue. It’s just about finalising a couple of things.’ They made it sound like it would be a simple deal.”

Instead of a pen on a contract, what came was a phone call. And not the kind a driver ever wants to receive.

“At the end of January, I got the call telling me Hamilton was coming. It took me a good week to digest that shock.”

 

Still delivering for the red team

Despite the emotional blow, Sainz remained professional and highly competitive throughout his final campaign in red. He scored two standout victories—first in Melbourne and again in Mexico—proving that his exit had little to do with performance and everything to do with star power.

He ended the season fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, once again outperforming expectations and occasionally even outshining his teammate Charles Leclerc. But as 2025 loomed, Sainz found himself without a seat, and the game of musical chairs began.

Cadillac shunned

 

Mercedes? Close, but no cigar

As the grid began to shift, Sainz did what any experienced driver would do—he picked up the phone.

“We obviously spoke with Toto [Wolff],” he confirmed. “I was certainly a possibility they considered. How seriously? I can ask Toto. But I think he’s very happy with Kimi.”

The ‘Kimi’ in question is, of course, Kimi Antonelli, the teenage prodigy being fast-tracked through the Mercedes development programme like a Brackley-built Verstappen.

Sainz’s path to the Silver Arrows was never entirely ruled out, but it became clear that Mercedes were committed to a long-term project—one that didn’t include a seasoned campaigner, even one with Sainz’s résumé.

Ferrari’s Secret Weapon

 

Red Bull reunion that never was

There were also murmurs about a sensational switch to Red Bull, a move that would have reunited Sainz with Max Verstappen, his former Toro Rosso teammate. While the rumour mill suggested lingering tensions between the pair, Sainz was quick to swat those aside.

“I get along really well with Max,” he said. “People don’t see that from the outside. Yes, we had a rivalry in our first year in Formula 1, but it was a healthy one. These days we have a good relationship.”

Sainz even went so far as to say he would have gladly joined Red Bull if given the chance.

“If that’s the reason they didn’t want me—this supposed bad relationship—I don’t get it. I think we’d be a very strong team. I would have taken that opportunity without hesitation.”

 

Plan C: Project Williams

With top seats at Mercedes and Red Bull off the table, Sainz instead turned to Williams—a team with history, but not recent glory.

Some viewed it as a backward step, others a long-term bet. For Sainz, it was simply the next chapter. With the 2026 regulation overhaul on the horizon and new investment flowing into the Grove outfit, Williams offered him something increasingly rare in Formula 1: a fresh start.

So far, the results have been modest. Sainz sits 15th in the championship standings with 13 points to his name, a far cry from race wins and championship contention. But internally, Williams is focused less on today and more on tomorrow, pinning their hopes on 2026 to propel them back into the fight.

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A Ferrari farewell without fireworks

In the end, the manner of Sainz’s Ferrari exit reflects a reality often hidden behind the glitz and glamour of Formula 1. Contracts, as the saying goes, are not worth the paper they’re written on until the ink is dry. And in this case, the ink was never even uncapped.

Ferrari chose Hamilton. Not because Sainz wasn’t delivering, but because Hamilton is Hamilton. Seven titles, global appeal, and perhaps, a legacy-defining challenge in red.

Still, one cannot help but wonder if Ferrari may one day regret letting go of a driver who delivered when it mattered most, often under pressure, always with determination.

Sainz took it on the chin, rebuilt, and carried on. But the manner of his departure left a bitter aftertaste—one not quite washed away, even now.

So, what say you, the jury?

Was Ferrari right to roll the dice with Hamilton?

Did Carlos Sainz deserve better treatment after proving his worth time and time again?

Let us know in the comments below—and don’t forget to join the discussion over on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheJudge13 #TJ13

 

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