The 2024 market ‘bomb’
With the 2024 championship now definitively closed, Ferrari gathered at Fiorano on Tuesday to formally bid farewell to Carlos Sainz, a driver who has represented the Scuderia over the previous 4 seasons and who will be a part of Williams in 2025. This transfer, introduced earlier within the season, was a direct consequence of Ferrari’s shocking announcement made even earlier than the beginning of the championship, when the workforce revealed the settlement reached with Lewis Hamilton for 2025.
A real market ‘bomb’ that shocked followers and insiders alike, together with Mercedes Crew Principal Toto Wolff and Carlos Sainz himself. The Spaniard, in a latest interview on F1’s official podcast *Past the Grid*, admitted he had been virtually completely sure he would proceed his journey at Maranello in 2025, a situation that may as an alternative not come to move.
The shock
A call that brought on him ache however in the end helped him change into a greater driver: “Initially of the 12 months, I used to be examined greater than I ever had been earlier than, and life put me in a really uncomfortable place,” he admitted. “I used to be advised that I wouldn’t proceed with the workforce I used to be 99% positive I might maintain working with over the winter. It was an enormous shock to my hopes, and naturally, I didn’t get pleasure from that second. I nonetheless educated and ready for the season, aiming to be able to win races, to win a championship if the chance arose, and I approached that 12 months nonetheless stuffed with power, however clearly in an uncomfortable scenario and at an uncomfortable time.
“I keep in mind being very emotional on the rostrum at the Australian Grand Prix as a result of my father, my supervisor, my girlfriend, and everybody near me had been there. In fact, I used to be pondering of my mom. All of them had seen me endure over the winter, and after I say endure, I don’t imply crying behind closed doorways, however I used to be genuinely harm as a result of I didn’t anticipate it. I wasn’t ready for that sort of information. I stayed a bit in shock for some time.
“I keep in mind after Australia occupied with how fortunate I’m to have individuals round me who help me and provides me the interior energy to beat a tough time. Now, after I assume again on it, I’m virtually blissful, proud that it occurred, as a result of it made me a greater driver and a greater athlete total.”
Nonetheless a future at Maranello?
The brand new problem for Carlos Sainz is the one awaiting him in 2025 on the wheel of the Williams, however the four-time Grand Prix winner hasn’t dominated out a possible return to Ferrari sooner or later if the chance arises: “Sure, why not? I don’t see why not,” he concluded. “On the identical time, I don’t see the way it may occur anytime quickly, however life is lengthy. I’m 30, however in F1, you see drivers at 42. So, if I had been to remain in F1 that lengthy, who’s to say that within the subsequent 10 years, Ferrari won’t want me once more? This doesn’t imply I’m hoping for it or wanting ahead to such issues occurring. Proper now, I’ve a really massive aim in thoughts, which is to assist Williams get again to the highest of the championship, however I don’t give it some thought an excessive amount of.”
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