Spanish media report Vasseur open to Sainz Ferrari return – For Formula One viewers in the UK, Sky F1 the official broadcasting partner of the sport runs a number of fun segments during its ten hours of broadcasting across a race weekend. One of these contains a running theme where drivers take a polygraph test to reveal their darkest secrets and some fascinating likes and dislikes.
Both Williams drivers have featured in this segment this season with Albon being the first of the pair. When asked if he thought he would outscore his new team mate Carlos Sazin this year the British-Thai driver replied: “I think it’ll be close,” before being pressed for a yes or no answer as the polygraph requires.
Pausing briefly for thought, Albon assertively declared “Yes,” as would any driver maybe other than Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto. So far the prediction has been resoundingly true, although last time out the Spaniard claimed Williams’ first podium since 2019.
Sainz hopes Ferrari have regrets
Next up Alex was asked if he considered himself the team leader with Sainz being the new kid on the block. “I don’t think there is a team leader this year,” Albon said in line with the collaborative approach team boss James Vowles has brought to the team.
Then came Carlos Sainz turn some weeks later and inevitably the interrogator, Simon Lazenby, turned to the cruel departure for the Spaniard from Ferrari. When asked whether the Scuderia would regret letting him go, the “smooth operator” with a dead pan face replied: “I don’t wish that Ferrari will regret letting me go…,” before cracking up and admitting, “Ok I’m lying. Haha okay yes I do.”
Carlos was asked whether he thought he looked better in red than Lewis Hamilton. His initial response was “I don’t look good in red, I don’t think I look better in red than Lewis…,” before again cracking up and admitting, “Wait I’m lying again? Fine I do look better”.
The switch to Williams has proven difficult for Carlos and he has admitted adjusting to the Mercedes engine has been the trickiest part of he transition. Hamilton too going the other way has found the Ferrari power unit a very different prospect from the one he was used to and together with the switch in brake manufacturers has struggled to score 75% of the points as has Leclec.
Hamilton close to a Ferrari record
In fact both Hamilton and Sainz have been inferior to their team mates with Sainz now having around just under half the score of team mate Albon.
Worryingly for Ferrari, neither driver has been close to a Grand Prix win in 2025, although Leclerc looked good leading the race in Hungary before the team pumped up the tyre pressure at his final stop, to prevent the car from bottoming out and wearing the plank beyond the legal limit.
Leclerc has five podiums this year, whilst Hamilton is close to breaking the Ferrari record for the number of race weekends any Scuderia driver has undergone, without making step the post Sunday’s race presentation. He will match the current holder of that infamous title, Didier Pironi should he fail to make the podium in Singapore.
Team boss Fred Vasseur has been under pressure from the Italian media, given the shocking form of the Maranello based team. O the whole his interviews have been guarded, with the Frenchman refusing to share his emotions and the details of why things have gone so badly.
Spanish media report Vasseur regrets
Guenther Steiner has gone on the record stating that there are those at the top of Ferrari who regret signing Hamilton and discarding Carlos Sainz who was for four seasons close to or ahead of Leclerc.
A report from Spanish F1 publication MARCA has shared the feelings of Vasseur in an “off the record” interview. It claims Hamilton failing to give back the place in Baku to his team mate on the final lap is considered a “mortal sin” back in Maranello.
Of course Lewis did attempt the switch, but with Isack Hadjar close behind Leclerc, it was a risky call from the Ferrari strategists. With the cars hurtling at over 300kph down the two kilometre finishing straight it would have been easy to allow Hadjar through – making the team and Hamilton look ridiculous.
When asked about a potential return to Ferrari for Carlos Sainz, Vasseur admitted “the door wasn’t closed” although the interpretation from the Spanish journalist is that the Frenchman wishes the team had never let him go. Although a Sainz return to the iconic red team is “not on the table” presently the implication is in the future there was a real possibility.
A Sainz return to Ferrari maybe if Leclerc has had enough
Yet for this to happen it would be likely that it was Hamilton who would have to leave the team. Charles Leclerc is the ‘favoured son’ of the Scuderia who invested in him whilst he was in junior racing. Yet Leclerc now in his seventh year with Ferrari appears deflated when asked about the possibility of becoming F1 champion, were the Scuderia fail again with the new 2026 regulation changes.
Then after eight year’s and just eight Grand Prix victories from his 164 starts and at 29 years of age, Leclerc may decide its time to change his fortune and explore a driver with front running outfit.
Hamilton too is reported to be I control of his own destiny. His deal for 2026 with the Scuderia is nailed on and it is said he has an option where he can continue into 2027 whether the team like it or not.
From Carlos Sainz perspective, he as at an F1 team on the up. Williams have scored more points this season than in the previous four combined and quit their 2025 car development before the rest of the field to focus on the challenge of next year.
McLaren ready to crown Piastri as No.1?
Sainz self confessed “life project” is Wiliams
An emotional Sainz expressed that his podium in Baku was “the best of my life” and claimed to return the British racing marque to its former glory was his life’s mission. “For me, the vindication is not so much towards moving to Williams. I always believed in this project,” Sainz told Sky Sports F1 after the race.
“I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again – this is my life project. If I manage to bring Williams back to being competitive and winning races, it’s everything that I care about and I will put the next three years of my life all my effort into doing that and committing to that. I also know that I can do it, because I think I’m good at bringing the team forward.”
Maybe there are those in the senior Ferrari management who “regret” letting Carlos go in exchange for a fading seven tines champion. But for Sainz the euphoric experience of his podium finish for Williams appeared to suggest there can be more to F1 for a driver than wining in red.
F1 2025 final races: Who has the pace advantage?
With seven races and three sprint events remaining, the 2025 Formula One season enters its decisive stretch. After a year characterised by McLaren’s resurgence, Red Bull’s resilience and glimpses of strength from Mercedes and Ferrari, the competitors gather in Singapore for the first of the remaining contests. Not only is the drivers’ crown at stake, but also the answer to the question that has dogged this campaign since March: who really has the fastest car?
For much of the season, McLaren have set the pace. Their MCL39 has been the most consistent performer across a variety of tracks, though it has its limitations. Meanwhile, Red Bull suffered spells of inconsistency, but countered with decisive upgrades that have kept Max Verstappen in contention.
Mercedes and Ferrari have also enjoyed success, but neither has managed to perform consistently. The order has shifted again since the summer break, and as the championship draws to a close, each circuit presents a new test of the teams’ strengths and weaknesses….. READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
