Ferrari at a Crossroads: Was Letting Sainz Go a Good Idea?

Ferrari is under scrutiny after taking two steps back compared to 2024, with Hamilton struggling and Leclerc facing exit rumours.

Thinking of Italy, as a philosophical concept, is to think of Ferrari. The Scuderia embodies all the values, virtues, and vices of Italian culture, with both its positives and negatives. Not a year goes by, even during their dominant years, without being engulfed in constant chaos. In 2025, this volcano is erupting.

The Italian team is not meeting expectations. Both Charles Leclerc and especially Lewis Hamilton are disappointing fans and critics alike. Under Fred Vasseur's leadership, the direction seems to have faltered, with few seeing a solution. The French manager is at the centre of rumours about a forced exit. The Corriere della Sera has already mentioned Antonello Coletta, Ferrari's director in the World Endurance Championship, where the red cars are winning and aiming for a third consecutive victory at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend. One of Vasseur's most questioned decisions is, precisely, signing Lewis Hamilton.

In hindsight, it is easy to deduce that perhaps it was a mistake. Carlos Sainz was a well-established driver, forming a good duo with Charles Leclerc — albeit with some friction — and they delivered good results. They closed 2024 with five victories — three for Leclerc, two for Sainz — narrowly missing second place in the Constructors' Championship and feeling that, with a bit more luck, they might have achieved more. But it was a year where they knew they wouldn't continue with that structure. At the beginning of the year, Lewis Hamilton became available, and naturally, they decided to go all out to sign him. It's not easy to say no to the seven-time world champion who has broken almost every record possible.

However, a year and a half after that decision and with just four months into the championship, many voices are questioning that logical decision. Vasseur thought it was as simple as placing Hamilton in Sainz's spot and that the rest would fall into place. A grave mistake: the English driver and Riccardo Adami, his track engineer inherited from the Spaniard, live in continuous stress, highlighting the patience Peter Bonnington 'Bono' had, who helped Hamilton reach the top during his years at Mercedes. The results are not coming, to the point that the man who has broken all possible records has yet to step on a podium in red — except for sprints — and it doesn't seem likely in the short term. The arrival in Canada seemed like it could boost his morale, given that he achieved his first victory here in 2007, but his pace in practice sessions hasn't been promising.

The situation for Charles Leclerc is not much better. In fact, he is under even more pressure, considering Hamilton can still justify his lack of results due to the evident need to adapt to a radically different environment. 'Il predestinato's' situation is radically opposite: no driver on the grid is more accustomed to Ferrari than he is.

Starting the Canadian GP with a gross error that made him crash into a wall and break the car is not the best start. It was a statement of intent and also a symptom of what Leclerc is going through. The situation is so tense that there are already sources within the paddock, some very close to the driver, suggesting a possible drastic decision: leaving Ferrari. Publicly, he denies it. Privately, he smiles. Although he has a contract until 2029, there is also a review clause at the end of each year. There are teams with open spots: Mercedes, Aston Martin, or even Red Bull could accommodate him under certain circumstances.

All this is happening while, at Williams, Sainz lives with much less pressure. His results are not entirely brilliant, but he knows he has much less to prove there than he did at Ferrari. Still, he would surely trade his battles for points for those of podiums. He didn't make the decision to leave Maranello, so he is not responsible for what is happening now.