Carlos Sainz Jr. was taken by surprise by Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari
In 2025, Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes to join Ferrari. This transfer pushes Carlos Sainz towards the exit. The Spanish driver said he was "taken by surprise" at the announcement of the seven-time world champion's arrival at the Italian team.
Carlos Sainz is one of the many drivers whose contract ends in 2024. The Spaniard initially wanted to continue his journey with Ferrari. However, the Italian team preferred to recruit Lewis Hamilton in 2025 for several seasons.
The announcement of the arrival of the seven-time world champion at Scuderia has surprised the world of F1, as this transfer is historic, described as being the « century transfer by many observers. But this arrival pushes Carlos Sainz out of Maranello at the end of this year.
« I now have some time to decide where I want to go.
During the presentation of the SF-24, the double Grand Prix winner acknowledges that this announcement, quite early in the season, allowed him to prepare for the upcoming season starting on March 2nd in Bahrain and to start looking for a new project.
“It was a bit of a surprise, as it was for everyone in the world of F1, with this news. Everyone was surprised in some way by what happened, and on my side, I learned the news a little earlier than everyone else. It is true that I had a few weeks to think, to prepare myself, and also for the launch of the car and the first race of the season,” declares Carlos Sainz Jr.
« This gives you some time to digest, draw your own conclusions, and focus on the 2024 season and the upcoming race. But the fact that it’s a surprise for everyone in Formula 1 is not news and obviously, that was also the case for me. I still don’t know where I’ll go, but now I have some time to decide where I want to go. There are many options, and there is time to make an important decision over the next few months, continued number 55.
The Stake F1 Team track, future Audi in 2026, is the one that is coming back with the most insistence. But Carlos Sainz could also join Mercedes, to fill Lewis Hamilton’s vacant seat.
