Carlos Sainz’s dad reveals ‘stressful and hard’ toll son suffered due to Hamilton…read more
Carlos Sainz Sr. has revealed the emotional and professional challenges his son, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr., has faced following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season. In a surprising move, seven-time world champion Hamilton signed with Ferrari, effectively taking Sainz’s seat, leaving the Spanish driver in a difficult position to decide his next career step.
Sainz Sr., a renowned rally driver, opened up about his son’s struggles in the months leading up to the decision. He described the year as “stressful and hard” for his son, particularly following the shock announcement that Hamilton would be partnering Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Sainz, 30, was faced with an uncertain future and spent several months considering his options. He was heavily linked with top teams like Mercedes and Red Bull, but eventually signed a multi-year deal with Williams in August 2024.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Sainz Jr. has experienced one of the most successful seasons of his F1 career. With victories in both Singapore and Australia, he delivered key performances to disrupt Red Bull’s dominance. His father, Sainz Sr., acknowledged that while the year has been successful on track, the process of dealing with such a career-changing decision took a heavy emotional toll on his son.
Sainz Sr., who is frequently seen supporting his son from the Ferrari garage alongside his nephew and Sainz Jr.’s manager, Carlos Onoro, admitted that watching his son race is far more stressful than being behind the wheel himself. Sainz Sr. has had an illustrious career in rally racing and prefers driving to being a spectator, as it allows him to have control over the situation.
In a lighter moment, Sainz Sr. was asked whether he would consider racing alongside his son in the Dakar Rally, a grueling motorsport event that he has competed in several times. He humorously dismissed the idea as “impossible,” explaining that they each belong to different racing disciplines—his son to Formula 1, and himself to rally driving. He joked that neither of them knows how to drive the other’s type of vehicle.
While Sainz Jr. looks ahead to his new journey with Williams, his father remains supportive, understanding both the highs and lows of his son’s career as a professional athlete in the high-pressure world of formula 1.
