2024 Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

[Mattchu]

I have a feeling that sacking him in order to bring in Hamilton, has a high possibility of being "the big Netflix blunder" decision that no one in the team wants to talk about, because they have mindfully 'parked aside' their worry about this possibility.

He wasn`t sacked like Perez has just been, Ferrari just decided not to renew his contract, there`s a pretty big difference!

[SharkY]

LEC had the worst qualifying performance of his career in 2024 which made SAI “appear” closer to LEC than he actually is.

I don’t see any improvement with Sainz since he joined Ferrari and obviously non of the other top teams saw him as a viable alternative to whatever young talent they were after instead of hiring Sainz.

Well, TBH Sainz's performance this season was really good. He was steadily bringing good points, which was crucial for the team to have a shot at WCC. And he landed in Williams, because the top teams were filled. Merc wanted to invest in "future megastar", McLaren has 2 great drivers (even though Oscar was quite uneven this season) and that leaves RB. I just can't fathom, why they considered LAW/TSU/PER over SAI, based purely on driving. Other factors must have come into play.

On the other hand, I feel that Lewis might bring an improvement over Carlos in one aspect - fight on the track. Looking over past 4 seasons, Carlos didn't strike me as someone, who could particularly well defend or attack for position.

[deadhead]

LEC had the worst qualifying performance of his career in 2024 which made SAI “appear” closer to LEC than he actually is.

I don’t see any improvement with Sainz since he joined Ferrari and obviously non of the other top teams saw him as a viable alternative to whatever young talent they were after instead of hiring Sainz.

Well, TBH Sainz's performance this season was really good. He was steadily bringing good points, which was crucial for the team to have a shot at WCC. And he landed in Williams, because the top teams were filled. Merc wanted to invest in "future megastar", McLaren has 2 great drivers (even though Oscar was quite uneven this season) and that leaves RB. I just can't fathom, why they considered LAW/TSU/PER over SAI, based purely on driving. Other factors must have come into play.

On the other hand, I feel that Lewis might bring an improvement over Carlos in one aspect - fight on the track. Looking over past 4 seasons, Carlos didn't strike me as someone, who could particularly well defend or attack for position.

SAI was a “free agent” for months and non of the top teams wanted him, at least not with whatever he was demanding. If a top team wants you, they make room for you, case in point being HAM coming to Ferrari and one of the drivers being dropped to make way.

Even in his current form HAM is an improvement over SAI in every department.

SAI will always be a “mid” driver who delivers a few good races per year and that’s it. Mid to bottom of the grid team is a perfect fit for him where he can shine amongst similarly skilled drivers.

[KimiRai]

Even in his current form HAM is an improvement over SAI in every department.

We dont know that yet. That is the hope of many and Ferrari's for sure but the track holds the final verdict. And I'm rooting for Lewis in Ferrari and I think he chose the right team, yet Sainz's 2024 form was not "mid" in my opinion. Also lets not forget Sainz missed a race.

I think Lewis' performance could be quite similar, but if he indeed exceeds Sainz's 2024 then great news. Lets see how it goes.

[GrizzleBoy]

Also remember that "no top te" wanting a driver is not necessarily because they're not a good driver. Infact it can easily be the complete opposite. Especially in teams with clear and established no.1 drivers.

[JPower]

SAI will always be a “mid” driver who delivers a few good races per year and that’s it. Mid to bottom of the grid team is a perfect fit for him where he can shine amongst similarly skilled drivers.

Classifying Sainz as a "mid" driver really damages any credibility you have on this subject.

There's no "mid" driver staying a tenth off the "best qualifier on the grid" across 90 sessions.

He's been a top 5-7 driver since 2019 by most accounts which is how he found himself at Ferrari in the place. You may not like him personally but at least try to be objective.

[ScuderiaLeo]

I was really hoping the off-season wouldn't fill this thread with more Leclerc vs Sainz debates, but I guess that was too much to ask for...

Both CS & CL have significantly advanced their own view of their own capabilities over this year I feel. Each arriving at the end of race season more rounded and understanding of their own potential along with how to enact that too.

Vasseur said he's "never seen a pair of teammates so focused on what the other was doing." A few weeks ago, there was a discussion about how it's a bad thing to be so competitive with your teammate, but beating each other and picking up each other's better traits was a huge motivation for both Leclerc and Sainz. The result of this is the fantastic season they had.

I don't know how some people here are arguing Hamilton's 2024 season showed better form than Sainz. Sainz was easily in the top five drivers this year, Hamilton wasn't. Maybe there are reasons for this such as Mercedes struggling or Hamilton being demotivated, but that doesn't change the fact that Sainz was better.

Sainz's reputation suffers a bit from him being teammates with Leclerc, who is one of the best drivers of this generation. If Sainz's teammate was someone like Piastri, he would get more of his (deserved) credit.

[deadhead]

SAI will always be a “mid” driver who delivers a few good races per year and that’s it. Mid to bottom of the grid team is a perfect fit for him where he can shine amongst similarly skilled drivers.

Classifying Sainz as a "mid" driver really damages any credibility you have on this subject.

There's no "mid" driver staying a tenth off the "best qualifier on the grid" across 90 sessions.

He's been a top 5-7 driver since 2019 by most accounts which is how he found himself at Ferrari in the place. You may not like him personally but at least try to be objective.

No credibility claimed, it's just an opinion.

I don't see him as anything special. I admit he is a solid racing driver, but doesn't really belong in a Ferrari and I am glad he is being replaced with someone who does. For me his is just another Barichello.

[JPower]

SAI will always be a “mid” driver who delivers a few good races per year and that’s it. Mid to bottom of the grid team is a perfect fit for him where he can shine amongst similarly skilled drivers.

Classifying Sainz as a "mid" driver really damages any credibility you have on this subject.

There's no "mid" driver staying a tenth off the "best qualifier on the grid" across 90 sessions.

He's been a top 5-7 driver since 2019 by most accounts which is how he found himself at Ferrari in the place. You may not like him personally but at least try to be objective.

No credibility claimed, it's just an opinion.

I don't see him as anything special. I admit he is a solid racing driver, but doesn't really belong in a Ferrari and I am glad he is being replaced with someone who does. For me his is just another Barichello.

You don't have to have to find anyone special. You don't have to think they belong at Ferrari. Just know that without any criteria or basis in reality, it sounds unreasonable and foolish.

Since Schumacher, Ferrari tried to acquire an elite WDC-capable talent to anchor the team. That shouldn't discredit the rest of the drivers that helped carry the team as well. "Just another Barichello" isn't bad by any means(although Sainz was far closer to his teammate obviously). Sainz exceeded most all expectations coming into the 2021 season and turned out to be the best option for Ferrari as Vettel's replacement. Ricciardo and Bottas were the other two serious options and both flamed out in the ground effect era.

Not one person at Maranello is going to say Sainz didn't represent the team well, maximize his talent, or give 100% until the last lap with the team. I think he more than earned a seat, which is why the only reason to part ways that made sense for next season is to sign arguably the greatest driver in F1 history.