Carlos Sainz Admits He Was Tempted to Sabotage Ferrari After Lewis Hamilton Deal.
Carlos Sainz has opened up about the emotional and mental toll he experienced during the 2024 Formula 1 season after learning he would be replaced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025.
Hamilton shocked the motorsport world early in 2024 by announcing his move to Ferrari before the season had even started, leaving Sainz without a seat at one of F1’s most prestigious teams. The unexpected move set off months of speculation about Sainz’s future, with the Spaniard eventually signing with Williams. Now halfway through his debut season with the Grove-based outfit, Sainz has reflected candidly on the personal challenge he faced during that tumultuous period.
Appearing on the High Performance podcast, Sainz described how he grappled with the emotional blow of being pushed aside by Ferrari and how he resisted the urge to respond destructively.
“For me, it was mainly about professionalism,” said Sainz. “I understand how a driver with a big ego might want to tear the team apart from the inside, stir politics, and become a disruptive force.”
When asked by host Jake Humphrey whether those thoughts ever crossed his mind, the 30-year-old responded honestly. “Oh, of course! Everyone has that angel and demon on their shoulder. The demon was screaming, wanting to say or do things out of frustration—but the angel, thankfully, won out.”
Despite knowing early in the season that his time with Ferrari was coming to an end, Sainz maintained a strong work ethic and gave everything on track. Rather than let resentment fester, he channeled his emotions into performance—delivering one of the best seasons of his career. Sainz claimed two impressive wins in 2024, standing atop the podium at both the Australian Grand Prix and the Mexican Grand Prix.
“I told myself: don’t be that guy. Don’t be the one who brings the team down just because you’re hurt,” he said. “I decided to stay professional until the very last race and give my all—not just for Ferrari as a brand, but for all the people who work so hard behind the scenes and had nothing to do with the decision to replace me.”
Sainz’s mature response won him praise across the paddock, especially considering the timing and magnitude of Hamilton’s transfer announcement. “There are thousands of people in that factory, many of whom supported me throughout my time there. I owed it to them to give everything.”
He added, “It was hard, but that season was character-building. I had to grow in a lot of ways.”
Now racing with Williams, Sainz faces a fresh set of challenges. He has only scored 13 points so far in the 2025 season, while his teammate Alex Albon has outperformed him with 46 points, currently sitting eighth in the drivers’ standings. Albon’s strong form has been a key factor in helping Williams maintain fifth place in the constructors’ championship, holding the title of “best of the rest” behind F1’s leading teams.
Despite the rocky start with his new team, Sainz remains focused and committed, continuing to build his legacy with the resilience and professionalism that defined his final year at Ferrari.
