Carlos Sainz has each purpose to really feel aggrieved by Ferrari’s choice to not renew his contract. Even with a driver as legendary as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton out there, Carlos Sainz believed he had earned the correct to stick with the staff.
This season has solely bolstered that perception. Forward of the Qatar Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz sits two locations and 51 factors forward of Hamilton within the championship standings.
Whereas a lot of this may be attributed to Ferrari’s edge over Mercedes this yr, the extra telling comparability lies of their performances relative to their teammates. Hamilton trails George Russell by 9 factors and has solely outperformed him in 11 Grands Prix this season. In distinction, Carlos Sainz has defeated Charles Leclerc in 15 Grands Prix and will shut the season inside three of his teammate in each qualifying and race-day head-to-heads (at the moment 13-8 and 12-7).
Carlos Sainz has delivered yet one more spectacular marketing campaign, however now faces the prospect of shifting from Ferrari to Williams, a staff battling on the decrease finish of the grid. Including to his frustration, he’s needed to watch Hamilton endure one of many hardest seasons of his profession.
Peter Windsor puzzled by Carlos Sainz’s fireplace in comparison with Lewis Hamilton’s struggles at Qatar GP
Carlos Sainz’s willpower was on full show throughout Dash qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, the place he clocked the fourth-fastest lap, narrowly edging out Charles Leclerc. In distinction, Hamilton struggled, ending four-tenths slower than George Russell and qualifying seventh, whereas his teammate secured a spot on the entrance row alongside Lando Norris.
Reflecting on this disparity, Peter Windsor famous on his YouTube channel that Hamilton’s efficiency suggests he could have “mentally signed off.” Peter Windsor expressed confusion as to why the 39-year-old appears to lack drive, particularly with a transfer to a different high staff on the horizon. In the meantime, Carlos Sainz continues to struggle relentlessly, regardless of understanding that subsequent season will seemingly see him out of podium rivalry and competing for scraps within the midfield. He has outqualified Charles Leclerc just lately and even claimed victory in Mexico Metropolis simply final month, proving his unwavering willpower.
“Perhaps it’s Lewis sort of signed off mentally,” the previous Ferrari basic supervisor mentioned. “But it surely’s attention-grabbing to match [him to] Carlos Sainz, who in concept must be signing off mentally – Ferrari have mainly sacked him after an excellent yr with the Scuderia, and he’s driving for Williams subsequent yr, which isn’t the identical as going to a different frontrunning staff in the way in which Lewis is. And but it’s attention-grabbing the way in which Carlos has approached these final three races, outqualifying his teammate, successful races, trying actually good. Whereas Lewis Hamilton on the opposite facet of the defence seems fairly defeated in the intervening time.” – Peter Windsor added.
What Lewis Hamilton’s ‘darkest fears’ may be telling him as Mercedes chapter ends
Carlos Sainz, regardless of his imminent transfer to Williams, harbors hopes of sooner or later returning to Ferrari. His new contract with the struggling staff is long-term, nevertheless it contains an choice to go away on the finish of 2026, probably aligning with future alternatives at Maranello.
This timing coincides intriguingly with the construction of Hamilton’s Ferrari deal, which is initially set for 2 years with a mutual choice for a 3rd. Whether or not that third season materializes might hinge on Hamilton’s means to dispel doubts about his present type and resilience.
Based on BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson, the seven-time Formula1 world champion may be grappling with a few of his ‘darkest fears’ as he prepares to go away Mercedes. He’s seemingly questioning whether or not his current struggles stem from his personal efficiency or the constraints of the automotive.
A very puzzling factor has been Hamilton’s complaints about rear instability, a trait he as soon as famously mastered throughout his profession. Traditionally famend for his ability in dealing with oversteer, it raises questions on whether or not the distinctive calls for of this technology of Components 1 automobiles have muted among the abilities that set him aside as a legend of the game.
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