Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur says Carlos Sainz will get his and the Scuderia’s full support until the very last corner of the season out of respect for his commitment before being replaced by Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz is out of contract at the end of this year and won’t be staying at Ferrari following the announcement that Hamilton will join Charles Leclerc on a multi-year deal in 2025. Even though the move became public knowledge before the start of this season, Vasseur doesn’t expect any issues in the relationship between Sainz and the team, and has promised complete backing for the Spaniard.
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“We had time to discuss about it,” Vasseur said. “He had a mega professional reaction but I know perfectly well that the period and the journey was not easy for him. It was the most difficult call of my life when I had to call him, but also because I perfectly appreciate what he did last year with us.
“The fact that he was able to win in Singapore, to get pole in Monza, to help the team at this stage of the season and so on, but the reaction is mega professional. From the beginning he is fully focused on the season and he told me that he will push until the last lap of the season. But he can be sure that I will also push for him until the last corner – not the last lap, but the last corner.
“By respect for all the stakeholders of the season and the project, we worked a lot on this year’s car. The drivers are fully committed and we have to stay focused on 2024. This chapter is another one, it will be for 2025, but so far I want to keep the team motivated and focused. Carlos is doing a very good job and thanks to him for the support – he can be sure the team will be more than supportive until the end.”
After Hamilton identified Vasseur as central to his decision to leave Mercedes – saying “it really wouldn’t have happened without him” – the Ferrari team principal says he won’t be looking ahead to the seven-time world champion’s arrival.
“It’s not a secret that we had a good collaboration in the junior series and we kept a good relationship, but out of respect for everybody I want to be focused on 2024 and we have a huge challenge in front of us. It will be enough for me for this season.”