F1 News: Former Driver Claims Carlos Sainz's Success Is "Messing Everything Up At Ferrari"

Former F1 driver Christian Danner believes Ferrari might be regretting their decision to replace Carlos Sainz.

Author:
Lydia Mee
Apr 01, 2024

Former F1 driver, Christian Danner, has claimed that Carlos Sainz's exceptional performance in the 2024 season is causing disarray at Ferrari. This comes after Ferrari's announcement to bring in seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton from 2025, sidelining Sainz.

Key Takeaways:

Christian Danner asserts Carlos Sainz is disrupting Ferrari's plans with his outstanding 2024 performances.
Sainz's triumphs, including a win in the Australian GP, contrast with Hamilton's struggling form at Mercedes.
Danner suggests Ferrari may have prematurely opted for Hamilton, overlooking Sainz's current prowess and potential.

undefined — Nov 17, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. of Spain (55) before

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Former F1 driver Christian Danner believes that Ferrari has found itself in a difficult position after Carlos Sainz's Australian GP victory coupled with Lewis Hamilton's ongoing struggles at Mercedes. He stated to Motorsport-Magazin.com:

“At the moment, Carlos Sainz is messing everything up at Ferrari.

“’Firstly, you’ve signed the wrong driver for next year."

Sainz has already celebrated a third-place finish in Bahrain and his win in Australia, which was just 16 days following emergency surgery for appendicitis. Whereas, Hamilton finished 7th place in Bahrain, ninth in Saudi Arabia and unfortunately did not finish the Australian GP. Danner continued:

"Hamilton is lagging behind, I’m much better. Secondly, if you want Hamilton, you’ve kept the wrong one because I’m faster.

“If I, as a future number one driver, am blown away by the fired driver, that’s difficult.

“Sainz goes at it with a commitment, a joy and an aggressiveness that I really like!

“It also requires a fervent attitude: ‘Now it’s me and nobody else’. You can see that not only in his eyes, but in every corner.”

The decision to sign Hamilton, described by Danner as "highly political," might have been premature, considering Sainz's current form. Danner concluded:

“Lewis has really taken the Mercedes plague on his side. It’s not as if he’s suddenly fallen behind like Ricciardo.

“I wouldn’t blame Lewis for stumbling at the moment. But one thing is clear: Sainz is in such a form – when he has Leclerc under control like that – you can say that Fred Vasseur may have decided too early.”