Carlos Sainz insists Ferrari has made the “obvious” decision to exclude him from development discussions for the Italian marque’s 2025 Formula 1 challenger, as he prepares to part ways with the team at the end of the 2024 season. The Spanish driver, set to be replaced by seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, believes it’s logical for Ferrari to keep him out of the loop regarding next year’s car.
“I think it’s obvious that they’re not going to put me in the meetings of next year’s car,” Sainz said in an interview at the Red Bull Ring in Austria last week. “If they do, they are probably not being very clever because they know I am going to be somewhere else.”
Sainz, who returned Ferrari to the podium in Austria, is focused on the current season and will continue to contribute to the development of this year’s car. However, he will not be involved in simulator sessions or meetings related to the 2025 Formula 1 machine.
“I’m happy like that because that’s how I think it should be, or what I would do if I was team principal or whatever,” Sainz added.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc revealed that he and Hamilton have been in regular contact, but there have been no technical discussions about the Formula 1 car development. Leclerc is fully focused on his season ahead with Ferrari, while Hamilton is concentrated on finishing his last year with Mercedes on a high note.
Sainz’s 2025 Formula 1 destination remains unknown, with the three-time Formula 1 GP winner taking time to review his options. He has reportedly been linked to Williams, Alpine, and Sauber, but no deal has been finalized.
As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches, Ferrari is under pressure to secure a championship win before the current rule cycle ends and new regulations come into effect in 2026. With Sainz set to leave and Hamilton joining the team, Ferrari will be relying on its remaining drivers to deliver a strong performance.
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