Amid swirling speculation about internal strife at Ferrari following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s move to the team in 2025, both Carlos Sainz and team principal Frederic Vasseur have stepped forward to quash rumors of discord. The news had sparked predictions from figures like the 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen of a potentially tumultuous period for Ferrari, with concerns over team dynamics and Sainz’s commitment in the spotlight.
“Sainz will have zero interest in working for Ferrari now,” Villeneuve voiced his concerns to La Gazzetta dello Sport, suggesting a shift in Sainz’s priorities towards self-promotion over team goals. This sentiment was echoed by reigning world champion Verstappen, who noted the awkwardness of announcing Hamilton’s move so early in the season, predicting it could lead to Mercedes excluding Hamilton from certain discussions as the year progresses.
Contrary to these forecasts, Vasseur and Sainz present a united front. Vasseur, in an interview with France’s Auto Hebdo, emphasized the team’s support for Sainz, “In this situation, the team is behind him,” he stated, revealing that after a thorough discussion, the decision was made to back Sainz fully. “He is fully committed and we know we have to do the work together. We are professional,” Vasseur asserted.
Sainz, for his part, addressed the speculation head-on, reaffirming his role as a team player and his history of professionalism within the sport. “I have always been a team player. Everyone in Formula 1 knows this,” Sainz declared, setting the record straight on his willingness to support his teammate, Charles Leclerc, while also highlighting his expectations for reciprocal support in his championship pursuits. “In other words, of course I will help Charles (Leclerc) if it is asked of me. But on the other hand, I also expect him to help me if I’m fighting for the title.”
