When Ferrari announced in 2024 that they would replace Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season, it sent shockwaves through the paddock. After all, Sainz had been a consistent and valuable performer for the Scuderia. Fast forward to 2025, and comparisons are inevitable. With Sainz now at Williams scoring a dramatic podium in Baku, and Hamilton yet to fully settle, the question lingers: did Ferrari make the right call?
The Backdrop: Sainz’s Exit, Hamilton’s Entrance
Ferrari’s decision to part ways with Sainz was bold. Sainz and Charles Leclerc were considered a stable, competitive driver pairing. The move to bring in Hamilton was framed as a statement: Ferrari was aiming to combine legacy prestige, star power, and experience with their current capabilities.
But early results have complicated the narrative. Sainz, now at Williams, claimed a podium in Baku — the team’s first full-race podium since 2017 — while Hamilton has struggled to make an impact, often finishing behind Leclerc or failing to challenge for top positions.
Even Luca di Montezemolo, former Ferrari president, has weighed in with praise for Sainz and veiled criticism of Hamilton’s Ferrari tenure. He pointed out that “Sainz and Leclerc was a very good couple”, implying that Ferrari’s decision disrupted what was working.
Montezemolo didn’t mention Hamilton by name in some comments, but the implication was clear: the move to Hamilton has unsettled Ferrari’s balance and yielded mixed results.
The Case for Ferrari’s Decision
There were reasonable arguments in favor of Ferrari’s switch:
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Star power and branding: Hamilton is a global icon. From a marketing point of view, having a seven-time World Champion drives sponsorship appeal and media attention.
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Experience under pressure: Ferrari may have believed Hamilton’s depth of experience could help unlock difficult races or high-pressure moments.
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Fresh perspective: Bringing in a driver who knows nothing of Ferrari’s internal status quo might shake things up, challenge norms, or force changes behind the scenes.
But those advantages rely on performance — and so far, that has been the sticking point.
The Counterarguments: What Sainz Has Proved
Sainz’s showings since leaving Ferrari have given critics fuel:
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His Baku podium for Williams emphasizes that he can still extract results even in a less competitive car.
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He has spoken about the challenges of moving teams, adapting to new environments, and not always having results reflect pace.
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The optics of Hamilton struggling while Sainz shines elsewhere support the argument that Ferrari may have underestimated what he brought.
Former Ferrari insiders and commentators have described internal “regret” or second thoughts about letting Sainz go — not publicly, but as sentiment emerging in the paddock.
Some voices, like Guenther Steiner, have suggested Ferrari may have underestimated the disruption caused by changing a stable driver pairing just as the team is trying to stabilize itself.
What the pundits had to say
Jacques Villeneuve proclaimed via a betting site:
“Every time he left a team, that team went downhill. Every time. And it’s the same with Ferrari now,” “maybe was just a few hundredths” slower than his teammates, but that said teammate was quicker “thanks to the work that Sainz was doing”.
Guenther Steiner called it buyer’s remorse as he told The Red Flag podcast:
“I’m sure that some of the guys there are feeling regret, because Ferrari finished eighth and ninth in Baku. Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, finished third.”
Where Things Stand: Does the Decision Still Make Sense?
With several races into 2025, Ferrari’s gamble is under scrutiny. Hamilton has not yet stood on the podium for Ferrari in his new stint. Sainz’s early success at Williams further sharpens contrast.
However, it’s early days. Driver adaptation takes time. Car development, upgrades, and strategy all still evolve. Ferrari’s decision might yet pay off if Hamilton finds consistency and synergy with the team.
Whether the gamble was wise might depend on how 2025 ends. If Hamilton recovers form, helps Ferrari challenge for titles, and becomes a stable force, the decision will be vindicated. If Sainz continues to outperform him in a lesser car, many will point to this swap as a turning point.