Carlos Sainz revealed the surprising timeline behind Ferrari’s decision to not renew his contract, instead signing seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton for the 2024 Formula 1 season. The Spaniard described how he learned about the switch through a call from a friend, leaving him “completely shocked” as his future with Ferrari abruptly ended.

This unexpected development forced both Sainz and Hamilton to complete the 2024 season knowing it would be their last with their current teams — Sainz at Ferrari and Hamilton at Mercedes. Sainz has since moved to Williams, where he agreed a multi-year contract, continuing his F1 journey with a new team.

Negotiations and the Moment of Realization

In an interview on the High Performance podcast, Sainz detailed the progression of talks with Ferrari, which initially suggested a smooth contract renewal. Discussions started in October but were repeatedly delayed, yet Sainz remained confident his continuation at Maranello was assured.

“So I think it was around end of January or February,”

Sainz stated, describing how he was preparing intensively for the 2024 season.

“I was hopeful that the Ferrari was going to be a competitive car.”

Despite delayed negotiations, all feedback indicated an imminent agreement, and Sainz focused on his training and readiness for the upcoming campaign.

However, in late January, the situation changed dramatically. Sainz recounted,

“I was completely shocked. I went from believing I was going to be in Ferrari for a while, to suddenly, Lewis is replacing me, and ‘What am I going to do now.’ It never occurred to me that that could happen, and it was a bit shocking.”

Adapting to the Unexpected Challenge

After Ferrari’s announcement, Sainz became a subject of interest for many teams, including Red Bull and Mercedes, before ultimately committing to Williams. Despite the initial disruption, Sainz believes that the surprise change pushed him to elevate his performance on track.

Reflecting on his reaction, Sainz shared,

“But it took me a good week to accept it and to assimilate it. You never get too much of a reaction from me. I’m, I think, quite level-headed in that sense.”

He added,

“But that gave me a bit of a kick, and I think it made me a better athlete, a better driver. And what came out of me in March, April, May, was probably a best version of myself as a racing driver to date.”

This new drive translated into strong performances during early 2024, showing resilience and determination after the shock of his contract situation.

Finding New Opportunities After Ferrari

With no possibility of staying at Ferrari, Sainz focused on exploring other options. He described the mindset shift that helped him move forward:

“Look at different options. My next options. Obviously, I called everyone. If you have a five, ten per cent chance, I would still try and fight for it. But the moment you have zero chance, you need to move on, and you need to seek for your next option and try and prove yourself.”

Despite a difficult start at Williams in 2025, where team-mate Alex Albon had outscored him significantly, Sainz has steadily regained form. He scored points in five of the last eight grands prix and was on course for a sixth at Silverstone before a collision with former Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc ended his race prematurely.

Implications for Drivers and Teams in F1

This high-profile switch marks a dramatic reshuffle in Formula 1’s driver landscape, with Ferrari betting on Hamilton’s experience to lead their future campaigns. Meanwhile, Sainz’s journey highlights the unpredictability of contract negotiations in the sport and how drivers must adapt quickly to sudden changes. His ability to rebound and perform strongly at Williams signals resilience that may impact his standing in F1 going forward.

The move also underscores the intense competition and strategic decision-making teams face when assembling their line-ups, balancing performance expectations, experience, and potential.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Why does Carlos Sainz have 55?

A. During his career, the number 55 has become closely linked to the Spanish driver’s identity, both on and off the racetrack. Sainz selected this number as it cleverly connects to his name: Carlo5 5ainz.