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By Lydia Mee
Sports Contributing Writer
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Current Ferrari F1 driver Carlos Sainz is facing overt exclusion from key team activities as his tenure with the Maranello-based squad approaches its end. Heading towards an uncertain future without an immediate team affiliation, the Spanish driver has been candid about his sidelining from vital discussions about Ferrari's future plans, particularly the development of the 2025 car, ahead of his replacement by Lewis Hamilton.
During the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Sainz brought to light his changing circumstances within the Scuderia, emphasizing the strategic distance the team has placed between him and their future-oriented projects. He explained to the media, as quoted by Talk Sport:
"It is obvious now that they are not going to put me in the meetings of next year's car. If they do, they're probably not being very clever, because they know I'm going to be somewhere else.
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"I'm not attending the simulator sessions of the development of next year's car, and I'm not attending meetings of next year's car."
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The decision to exclude Sainz from these critical developmental meetings underscores a common practice in the competitive world of Formula 1, where teams often limit access to sensitive information to outgoing members to protect their strategic interests.
Despite these challenges, Sainz continues to prove his mettle on the track. His season has been marked by remarkable resilience, notably clinching a victory at the Australian Grand Prix soon after undergoing surgery for appendicitis. Currently, he stands fourth in the drivers' championship with 116 points, showcasing his undiminished capabilities and raising speculation about his potential suitors for the next season, with teams like Williams, Alpine, and Sauber/Audi rumored to be interested.
Adding a familial perspective, Carlos Sainz Sr., a revered figure in rally driving and currently active in Extreme E racing, shared his thoughts regarding his son's future, saying:
"I have no idea where he'll go, but I'm sure he's looking at all the possibilities.
"Hopefully he'll choose soon so he can concentrate on this season and get the best results possible."
This comes after on-track friction between Sainz and his teammate Charles Leclerc in Spain. Sainz commented to the media, as quoted by Formula 1, after the race:
"I think too many times he complains after a race about something. Obviously hot, he might think that. Honestly at this point of the season I don't know. I was on the attack, we were on a new soft, Mercedes were on a used soft and we had to go on the attack in the first laps when you are on a new tyre and try to pass them, like we said even before the race.
"I passed Charles because I don't know if he did a mistake or he was managing a bit too much."
As the Scarlet-clad driver navigates through this transitional phase of his career, the implications of his move will resonate within Imola and across the Formula 1 landscape, potentially influencing team strategies and driver market dynamics.
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