The 2025 Formulation 1 marketing campaign guarantees to deliver important modifications at Ferrari as Charles Leclerc prepares to welcome a brand new teammate to Maranello. This shift comes because the Scuderia embarks on a daring new chapter with the arrival of the game’s most embellished driver, Lewis Hamilton, who will don Ferrari’s legendary purple racing overalls for the primary time.
For Carlos Sainz, nonetheless, the narrative unfolded in another way. Lengthy earlier than the 2024 season even started, he was conscious it could be his swan music with Ferrari. The Spaniard entered the yr realizing it was his final probability to depart an indelible mark on the staff and display his price to different top-tier producers.
Ferrari’s announcement of Hamilton’s signing in February set off a domino impact within the driver market, reshaping lineups throughout the grid. At the very least six groups will function new pairings subsequent season, reflecting the seismic affect of Hamilton’s transfer.
The announcement additionally lit a hearth below Carlos Sainz, who approached the season decided to showcase his capabilities and safe a aggressive seat for 2025. Regardless of his finest efforts, the Spaniard shall be racing for Williams subsequent yr—a transfer Martin Brundle has described as a “travesty,” arguing that Carlos Sainz’s performances warranted consideration from groups like Mercedes or Crimson Bull.
Jolyon Palmer, talking on the *Chequered Flag Podcast*, echoed this sentiment whereas reflecting on Carlos Sainz’s yr. He believes 2024 was the Spaniard’s strongest season in Formulation 1, elevating questions on Ferrari’s resolution to half methods with him.
Jolyon Palmer Applauds Carlos Sainz’s Finest F1 Season Amid Ferrari Departure
Palmer particularly highlighted Sainz’s efficiency at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as proof of the motive force’s progress and resilience. He instructed that if Ferrari had the advantage of hindsight, they may rethink their selection, given the exceptional consistency and maturity Sainz displayed all year long.
Because the grid prepares for its shakeup in 2025, Carlos Sainz’s legacy on the Maranello staff will undoubtedly stay a subject of debate. Regardless of his exit, he has left an impression not solely on the staff but additionally on the broader F1 paddock, with pundits like Palmer and Brundle championing his expertise and questioning whether or not Ferrari’s gamble on change was the best name.
“Nicely there was form of an irony in that Ferrari to win the championship wanted the man that they’d ousted to win the race and he gave it a great shot. He completed inside six seconds of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz has been actually good this yr.” – the British former racing driver, broadcaster and journalist identified – “I actually assume this has been one in all his finest seasons in Formulation 1, possibly his finest. I feel on pure efficiency if the choice wasn’t made at first of the yr he’d in all probability keep at Ferrari. He’s been an expert, he gave it every thing to the final and I don’t see that Ferrari misplaced the championship at the moment I really assume they gave an excellent account of themselves with each vehicles. Leclerc coming third was a sensational turnaround as properly they simply couldn’t fairly recover from the road and that’s no small half all the way down to all the way down to the drivers they each had been glorious.” – Jolyon Palmer concluded.
Carlos Sainz Settling in at Williams as Lewis Hamilton Awaits Ferrari Debut
Simply days after the curtain fell on the 2024 Formulation 1 season, Carlos Sainz has already begun adapting to his new atmosphere at Williams, whereas Lewis Hamilton stays on standby for his much-anticipated debut with Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz wasted no time transitioning to his new staff, participating in a short demonstration run on Monday earlier than diving right into a full day of testing on Tuesday. Though his preliminary lap occasions with Williams had been a far cry from the pace he exhibited at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz shortly discovered his footing and confirmed regular progress all through the session. The testing supplied him with priceless perception into his new equipment, setting the stage for what’s prone to be a difficult but pivotal season.
In the meantime, Hamilton’s Ferrari journey is off to a slower begin. The seven-time world champion has but to get behind the wheel of his new automobile as he continues to satisfy his remaining sponsorship commitments with Mercedes. Ferrari, eager to maximise their funding within the sport’s most embellished driver, is unlikely to delay Hamilton’s first check session as soon as January arrives.
All eyes will inevitably flip to Hamilton because the grid prepares for the 2025 season opener in Australia on the Albert Park circuit. Followers and pundits alike shall be desperate to see how the Briton measures up towards his new teammate, Charles Leclerc, in what guarantees to be probably the most scrutinized intra-team battles on the grid.
For now, Carlos Sainz is concentrated on acclimating to Williams, whereas Lewis Hamilton bides his time, able to make his mark within the iconic purple of Maranello. The contrasting trajectories of those two drivers solely add to the intrigue as Formulation 1 heads right into a season brimming with contemporary narratives and heightened expectations.