Carlos Sainz shared his feelings about being replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next year.
At the start of the 2023 Formula 1 season, it was announced that Lewis Hamilton would leave Mercedes and join Ferrari, taking over Sainz’s spot.
Sainz has been open about how this news impacted his mindset and performance throughout the season. He admitted, “What I’ve been through this year is not ideal to perform at your highest level as an athlete. I think every driver that wants to perform at its highest level wants to have their future sorted and not have to worry about that,” he told The Athletic.
Sainz Reflects on Mental Challenges
Sainz believes a driver’s mental state is crucial for their performance. “I do believe there’s lap time in the athlete when everything is a bit calmer,” he said.
Even though he’s leaving Ferrari, Sainz holds no grudges. “A seven-time world champion happened to want to come to Ferrari in the last years of his career, and I had to move aside and obviously leave my space to Lewis. I have no hard feelings regarding that.”
Interestingly, he hasn’t ruled out a return to Ferrari someday. “I have probably still five to 10 years of career in front of me. So why would I close the door to a potential comeback?”
Fans might think it’s tough for Sainz but also exciting for Hamilton’s new chapter.
Sainz will complete his final eight races with Ferrari before moving to Williams next year .
What do you think about this change?
