Carlos Sainz, who left McLaren for Ferrari at the end of 2020, expressed no regrets about making the switch but admitted he wished he could have brought some of McLaren’s best engineers along with him. Since replacing Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, Sainz achieved four Grand Prix victories across four seasons before being controversially replaced by Lewis Hamilton at the close of 2024. Despite moving on, Sainz acknowledged McLaren’s ongoing rise in performance, culminating in their back-to-back constructors’ championships in 2024 and 2025.
Desire to Bring McLaren’s Engineering Talent to Ferrari
On the Beyond the Grid podcast, Sainz explained that although his decision to join Ferrari was driven by his dream, he never lost confidence in McLaren’s future potential. He noted that the engineering strength at McLaren was undeniable, and if it had been possible, he would have taken some key personnel to Ferrari.
Among those Sainz particularly highlighted was Andrea Stella, who had an extensive history at Ferrari before returning to McLaren, where he played a significant role in the team’s recent revival. Sainz also mentioned technical director Pete Prodromou as a crucial figure in McLaren’s improvement.
“When Ferrari puts an offer on the table, it’s very difficult to say no,”
Sainz said. “My dream was to be a Ferrari driver.
“But realistically, I remember telling my team when we were leaving McLaren, ‘This team is actually a very good race team. These people are going to go up, they’re going to keep climbing.’
“I know how good Andrea Stella is, I know how good [technical director] Pete Prodromou is and I remember leaving that team and having two, three or four names that if I could have taken them with me to Ferrari, I for sure would have taken them.
I knew they were doing things well and they were really good people that I enjoyed working with a lot.
Sainz’s Perspective on Lando Norris and Career Decisions
When asked whether he felt envious of Lando Norris, who won the world championship last year after overcoming a difficult start with Williams, Sainz was clear that he was satisfied with his own path. He reflected on his achievements at Ferrari including 25 podium finishes and contrasting that with what would have been years of regret if he had stayed at McLaren while they lagged behind.
Recalling his early years at Ferrari, Sainz noted that 2021 marked his first podiums, and 2022 brought his maiden race victory. Meanwhile, McLaren struggled in qualifying and races, exemplified by their near-last performance in Bahrain in 2023.
“What I would have thought back then [was] I would be winning races with Ferrari. I think it was the right thing to do at the right time and the only thing I feel is happiness for the team.”
Concerns Over Williams and Outlook for 2026
Sainz expressed frustration with Williams following their decline during winter testing, as the team missed an opportunity to break into the sport’s elite ranks. While recognizing the challenges that 2026 will bring, he remains hopeful and willing to support James Vowles as the Williams team attempts a turnaround.
