Carlos Sainz revealed the surprising events leading to Ferrari’s decision not to renew his contract for the 2024 Formula 1 season, with Lewis Hamilton announced as his replacement. The Spaniard shared that he first learned about the change through a phone call from a friend, leaving him completely stunned by the unexpected news.
Negotiations between Sainz and Ferrari had been ongoing since October, with both sides discussing a contract renewal. Sainz was confident he would remain with the Scuderia, preparing for the new season with the belief his deal was nearing completion. However, the decision was made prior to the start of the 2024 campaign, forcing both Sainz and Hamilton—then at Mercedes—to complete the season knowing they would switch teams.
The Timeline and Impact of Ferrari’s Decision
In an interview on the High Performance podcast, Sainz outlined how discussions with Ferrari became delayed but never raised suspicion. He said that until late January or early February, he expected the contract to be finalized quickly, with only a few economic details left to agree upon. During this time, he was actively training and preparing for what he hoped would be a competitive 2024 season with Ferrari.
“So I think it was around end of January or February,”
Sainz recalled.
“I was in the middle of my training preparation for the 2024 season, I was hopeful that the Ferrari was going to be a competitive car. I had done everything in December and January, obviously, to prepare myself for that season.”
His certainty was shattered when, without direct communication from Ferrari, he received a call from a friend informing him that his contract would not be renewed because Hamilton was joining the team.
“I was completely shocked. I went from believing I was going to be in Ferrari for a while, to suddenly, Lewis is replacing me, and ‘What am I going to do now.’ It never occurred to me that that could happen, and it was a bit shocking,”
he said.
Sainz’s Response and Career Shift to Williams
After processing the shock, Sainz committed to finding a new team, eventually signing a multi-year agreement with Williams. Despite initial struggles with the new outfit, he has demonstrated strong performances, securing two Grand Prix victories during his campaign and raising his career tally to four wins.
Reflecting on the impact of this career upheaval, Sainz credited the sudden change with pushing him to become a better driver.
“But it took me a good week to accept it and to assimilate it,”
he said.
“You never get too much of a reaction from me. I’m, I think, quite level-headed in that sense. But that gave me a bit of a kick, and I think it made me a better athlete, a better driver. And what came out of me in March, April, May, was probably a best version of myself as a racing driver to date.”
Determination to Overcome Setbacks and Seek New Opportunities
Asked about his mindset after learning the contract was signed and his exit from Ferrari confirmed, Sainz emphasized the importance of focusing on what could be done next. He actively explored all remaining possibilities, reaching out to various teams to keep his career options open in F1.
“Look at different options. My next options. Obviously, I called everyone. If you have a five, ten per cent chance, I would still try and fight for it. But the moment you have zero chance, you need to move on, and you need to seek for your next option and try and prove yourself,”
Sainz explained.
Current Form and Challenges at Williams in the 2025 Season
Starting the 2025 season, Sainz experienced a challenging start compared to his Williams teammate Alex Albon, who outscored him 46 to 13. However, recent races have shown improvement as Sainz scored points in five of the last eight Grand Prix events. His run of strong performances nearly extended to six consecutive points finishes at Silverstone, but a collision with former Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc disrupted that opportunity.
The 2024 switch not only altered Sainz’s trajectory but also reshaped the dynamic within Formula 1, as Hamilton’s move to Ferrari marks a significant change for both legends and their former teams.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Carlos Sainz have 55?
A. Throughout Carlos Sainz’s career, the number 55 has become closely linked to him, both in racing and in his personal life. His choice of this number comes from a clever play on his name: Carlo5 5ainz.
