Carlos Sainz has disclosed he was “in the middle of negotiations” with Ferrari over a new Formula 1 deal last winter when he was told he would lose his drive in 2025.
Sainz was expected to be renewed alongside his team-mate Charles Leclerc when the news broke over pre-season that Lewis Hamilton had penned a move to Ferrari.
With Leclerc retaining a long-term agreement with the Maranello-based squad, Sainz will be the driver that relinquishes his seat to the seven-time F1 World Champion.
Hamilton had been outspoken on wanting to end his F1 career with Mercedes, and that appeared destined to transpire as he agreed a renewal through 2025 last term.
Sainz has revealed that he was engaged in conversations with Ferrari over an extension when Hamilton elected to activate a break clause in his deal to change teams.
“I was in the middle of negotiations with Ferrari,” Sainz told Sky Sports F1 at Zandvoort last weekend.
“Everything seemed to be going in the right direction and suddenly these news arrived to me and it was completely unexpected.
“A huge turnaround in the way that suddenly my career was going to plan out and having to deal with the decision with negotiating, talking to all these teams that I could potentially go for.”
Sainz has admitted the circumstances surrounding his impending Ferrari departure will be strange as his relationship with the team’s top brass remains unblemished.
“Maybe the most particular thing of me and Ferrari is that there’s actually nothing wrong with me and Ferrari,” he expressed.
“My relationship with Fred [Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal], my relationship with Charles, my own track performances…
“Everything is actually going smoothly, and I’m that’s why I was so convinced and so sure I was gonna continue there.
“But a seven-time world champion decided that he wanted to go to Ferrari. And in that case, I couldn’t do nothing against it, and I had to accept it very quickly.”
The announcement saw Sainz become the centrepiece in the F1 driver market as Alpine, Sauber/Audi and Williams all entered the race to attain his coveted services.
Following a protracted saga that spanned several months, the Spaniard has chosen to commit his prospects to a rebuilding Williams on a multi-term deal from 2025.
“The market was incredibly dynamic because every day, you knew something new about even top teams like Red Bull or Mercedes, but also, midfield teams like, Williams.
“It’s not secret that I was talking to all of them. And, in the end Williams has all since the beginning always gave me the trust.
“I see a a team that has developed well over the last couple of years.
“With a very clear leadership with a very clear goal with a very clear vision, plenty of investment in the project, which I think nowadays is obviously fundamental.
“And I’ve always had a very strong connection, very good relationship with both James and the investment group that now is in Williams.
“Look, it motivates me. It’s a team that I think I can help to move forward in the future.
“It’s a motivation for me as a driver to go there to such a historical team, like I did maybe back then in McLaren and try to help them move forward.”
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