Guenther Steiner makes stunning Lewis Hamilton claim as ‘some’ Ferrari staff seek Carlos Sainz reunion

Guenther Steiner has questioned Ferrari’s decision to sign Lewis Hamilton this season after letting Carlos Sainz leave to join Williams.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was the perfect weekend for Carlos Sainz after a difficult first few months at Williams.

In the drivers’ championship, Sainz has watched his Williams teammate Alex Albon quickly climb the standings and is the best of the rest behind the drivers at the top teams.

However, qualifying on the front row of the grid alongside Max Verstappen and then finishing on the podium in Baku was the perfect remedy to a tough start at his fifth different Formula 1 team.

George Russell was quick to praise Sainz, and the Spaniard has helped cement Williams’ fifth-place in the constructors’ championship as a result.

Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, endured another tough weekend in Azerbaijan with Ferrari.

Hamilton missed out on Q3, and a botched driver swap on the final lap with Charles Leclerc didn’t help matters.

Ralf Schumacher has told Hamilton and Ferrari to part ways if they can’t solve their issues, and former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has made a similarly bleak statement about the seven-time world champion’s dream move.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Guenther Steiner says ‘some’ Ferrari staff regret Lewis Hamilton replacing Carlos Sainz

Steiner was asked on the Red Flags Podcast if Ferrari regretted bringing in Hamilton to replace Sainz this season and said: “I think some people in the team do.

“I think obviously management cannot feel regret because you would be admitting that you did something wrong, and you cannot do that, because I’m sure that some of the guys there, the feeling I get, because Ferrari finished eighth and ninth in Baku.

“Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, finished third, so it’s like, I guess the guy feeling best about it is Carlos Sainz.”

Later in the podcast, Steiner was asked during the Gas or Brake segment whether Sainz’s podium proves that Ferrari made the wrong choice in signing Hamilton.

“Gas!” Steiner said, “I mean, Carlos was doing a good job.

“They wouldn’t have all the interference from outside of Lewis not performing, so the team could focus on going racing, making things better, instead of always trying to find out why Lewis doesn’t like the car.

“They had a known quantity with Carlos; he could deliver, and Lewis obviously, I mean, I respect Lewis, but in the moment, for the unrest he brings into the team and around the team, is it a worthwhile investment? Maybe not.

“Also, the investment money-wise, I’m pretty sure it’s a lot higher with Lewis than with Carlos.”

READ MORE: Williams star Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

Carlos Sainz explains the ‘only thing’ he misses from his time at Ferrari

Sainz is one of the most well-travelled drivers in the paddock right now, with only Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg having raced for more teams out of the current crop on the grid.

One of the Spaniard’s claims to fame is that each team he’s joined has immediately improved in the drivers’ championship when he’s arrived.

Williams are also now benefiting from Sainz’s expertise, and with all of their focus on 2026, it will be fascinating to see how competitive they are next year.

Sainz has shared the ‘only thing’ he misses from his time at Ferrari, and right now, he wouldn’t be in a position to challenge at the front of the grid anyway.

Hamilton still has nearly 100 more points than Sainz this season, but his podiums column is still empty with seven Grand Prix to go.

He won’t want to be the latest driver to go an entire season with Ferrari without troubling the rostrum, although opportunities are starting to wear thin.