Carlos Sainz pinpoints what he hates most about Formula 1 that doesn’t happen in any other sport

Follow us on Google Discover

Williams Racing driver Carlos Sainz is having a slightly tricky time after leaving Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz would have known that as soon as he signed with Williams for the 2025 Formula 1 season, he would have to adjust his targets.

His victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix last season for Ferrari highlighted the level that he’s capable of reaching in the right car.

Unfortunately, after 12 races with Williams, early teething problems and reliability issues have limited him to 13 points and a best result of eighth in Saudi Arabia and at Imola.

Sainz is competing in his 11th season in Formula 1, having enjoyed spells at Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and now Williams.

Max Verstappen was Sainz’s first teammate, and he’s capably gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg and Charles Leclerc.

He wouldn’t have passed the 200 Grand Prix landmark if he didn’t love competing in Formula 1.

However, he’s now admitted there’s one aspect of F1 that he hates that he doesn’t believe is a factor in any other sport.

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

Carlos Sainz admits he hates how political the Formula 1 driver market is

Sainz was being interviewed on the High Performance Podcast and was asked about the current state of Formula 1.

He said: “I don’t think there is any other sport as political as F1!

“You know football, football can be political, but nowhere near as much as Formula 1.

“Formula 1, there is, for some reason, a level of politics that I don’t understand.

“It’s the one thing in this sport I hate.”

Jake Humphrey asked Sainz to elaborate, and he continued: “What makes sense for a team to have in the two seats might not be the right thing for the team.

“It makes sense, but it’s not the right thing, or there’s other things coming behind the driver.

“Whether it’s sponsors, money, that makes one a bit more attractive than the other, so it’s not purely performance.

“Performance brings you 80% of the cake, but there is another 20% that is not only performance or speed.

“Or let’s say, if I am equally as quick as some driver, that 20% is what makes the difference to go to a team or not, or to be chosen over another driver, and I feel this is only happening in Formula 1.”

READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties

Juan Pablo Montoya tips Carlos Sainz for potential Red Bull switch

Sainz’s experience and raw speed mean that he’ll always be on the radar of any team looking to upgrade their driver line-up.

He missed out on a move to Mercedes last year, with Toto Wolff instead opting for rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Sainz was glad not to be offered a seat at Red Bull when it became clear that Sergio Perez wasn’t destined to survive the 2024 winter break.

However, Verstappen is being linked with a move to Mercedes, which could see the F1 driver market once again become a key talking point.

Should Verstappen join George Russell at Mercedes next year, Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Red Bull will go for Sainz.

It would be a full circle moment for the 30-year-old, although Williams wouldn’t make an exit easy given how long team principal James Vowles spent tempting Sainz to join one of Formula 1’s most historic teams.