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As his time as a Ferrai driver comes to an end, Carlos Sainz has revealed that he isn’t 100% happy with his time racing for the Scuderia.
Carlos' time at Ferrari
Sainz joined Ferrari at the beginning of 2021 for the start of his 7th year in Formula 1. Prior to joining Ferrari he’d only scored two podiums, both with McLaren, and had never won a race.
As we approach the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the 2024 season finale, we’re also approaching Carlos’ final race for the Scarlet team from Maranello. Already we can look back on his time at Ferrari and see that based on his results, it’s been a good stint.
In his 4 years at Ferrari Carlos has achieved:
- 4 victories (Silverstone ’22, Singapore ’23, Australia ’24, Mexico ’24)
- 24 podiums
- 6 pole positions
- 3 fastest laps
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Sainz vs Leclerc
Carlos’ teammate Charles Leclerc has been a long-term project for Ferrari. He was part of their young driver programme and was always destined for a seat in their F1 car.
When Ferrari agreed to sign Lewis Hamilton for 2025, it was always going to be Sainz who’d have to make way for the 7-time World Champion. Not only because Leclerc was Ferrari’s prodigy, but because when you look at the two drivers’ head-to-head stats over the last four season, Charles always comes out on top:
The stats, whichever way you look at them, fall in Leclerc’s favour.
But for some reason it feels like some of Sainz’s victories have been more memorable; his first ever victory at Silverstone in 2022 was emotional; his ‘Smooth Operation’ at Singapore in 2023 was masterful; his win at the 2024 Aus GP, just days after having his appendix removed, was unbelievable; his victory at Mexico in 2024 was dominant.
Yes, Leclerc has outscored Sainz in every one of the metrics measured above. But considering the team has been molded around the Monagasque driver, Sainz has done well to get so close to him.
Carlos recently sat down with F1’s Tom Clarkson for an episode of Beyond The Grid. The two talked for an hour in depth about his appendectomy, dealing with the news about Lewis replacing him, moving on to Williams and his relationship with Leclerc.
When asked about making way for Lewis, he said “I also understand it was never going to be Charles. Charles has been the project of Ferrari ever since he’s been a junior driver. He’s been the centre of the project for many years. I understood I had to be the one being replaced, I understood it from the beginning, I just obviously didn’t agree so much at the time.”
Carlos not 100% happy with his time at Ferrari
Later in their chat, Tom Clarkson asked Sainz how he felt his four years at Ferrari had gone.
Sainz replied “If you would have told me 4 years ago I would be leaving Ferrari achieving my first wins, the way those wins came, 20-something podiums, I think I would have taken it.
“I said before arriving to Ferrari that my target was to become World Champion. We still have a target that we might achieve which is the constructor’s championship, that would be a huge thing before I leave.
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“So I cannot be 100% happy with the way things have gone because in those four years I would have loved to fight for a world championship, become a world champion. But hey, look, I’m leaving with my first wins in F1, my first 20-something podiums, I cannot complain.
“I’ve been a Ferrari driver for four years, I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it. I always feel loved by the Tifosi, I’ve enjoyed every single moment in Maranello and Fiorano.
Ending on a high
Sainz has driven with supreme confidence in 2024. Despite the end date on his contract, he’s done everything he can to maximise his team’s points (ignoring team orders in Vegas aside).
When asked whether he’d consider returning to Ferrari, Sainz said “Yeah, why not. I don’t see why not… But yeah, life is long.”
The best way for Carlos to finish his stint with Ferrari, and stand the best possible chance of being reconsidered for the team in the future, would be to help win the constructor’s title.
Ferrari face a 21 point deficit to McLaren heading in to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. They haven’t won the constructor’s title since 2008. And with a $1.6bn prize pot up for grabs, you can bet the Smooth Operator will be giving it his all this weekend.
