Carlos Sainz shows he’s the classiest driver in F1 with reaction to Lewis Hamilton Ferrari struggles

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Lewis Hamilton has done little this season to justify Ferrari’s decision to drop Carlos Sainz. In fact, Sainz scored a podium for Williams before Hamilton managed one in red.

This year’s Ferrari is clearly a downgrade on its predecessor. Charles Leclerc provides the evidence – he won three races last season but hasn’t taken any victories this year.

But Sainz contributed 44.4% of the team’s points last season, while Hamilton has barely been responsible for 40% this year.

The Spaniard also finished ahead of Leclerc in eight of the 21 races where both drivers have classified, while Hamilton only has done so on three out of 19 occasions.

‘I side with Lewis’ – Carlos Sainz defends Ferrari replacement Hamilton

In an interview with AS, Sainz was asked whether Hamilton’s miserable season ‘reflects well’ on him. But he says he takes no pride or joy in seeing his former team struggle.

Sainz says Hamilton’s critics enjoy ‘drama’ but overlook the fact that he’s up against an ‘incredible’ teammate in Leclerc. He emphasised just how ‘difficult’ it is to thrive in a new team at the outset.

“No [it doesn’t reflect well on me],” he said. “What makes me look good depends more on what I do at the team I’m joining, not on what happens at a team I’m no longer with.

“I’ve always wished Ferrari the best. Even if Hamilton was having a good year, as long as I was having one at Williams, what happened on the other side was irrelevant to me.

“I know people like that drama, especially when we’re talking about a seven-time world champion, but the level in F1 is very high. Leclerc is at an incredible level; Albon, Norris, Verstappen, and Russell are all at a very high level.

“I side with Lewis and it’s very difficult to join a team and stand out. Even more so in your first year, when your teammate knows the car and the team so well. It’s very, very difficult. I can’t explain how difficult it is.”

Part of Sainz wanted to set Ferrari ‘on fire’ when he lost his seat, but he has instead behaved with the utmost professionalism.

Sainz has consistently defended Hamilton and emphasised that he will need time to show his best form.

Juan Pablo Montoya says Ferrari must learn from Carlos Sainz’s success at Williams

After the Italian GP in September, Sainz was 18th in the championship on just 16 points. Teammate Alex Albon was flying in P7 (70 points).

Since then, Sainz has surged to the fringes of the top 10. He has outscored Albon 32-3 and appears to be asserting intra-team dominance.

Speaking to AS Colombia, Juan Pablo Montoya praised Williams for being receptive to Sainz’s feedback, and said Ferrari could learn from this approach.

“Look at how he’s adapted to the car. Look at the difference between Williams, a team that’s very open to listening to the driver and what the driver wants, and Ferrari, which has its theory on what it is that they want to do.

“Look at the results that Carlos has had in that car and what Lewis has done in the Ferrari. Let’s leave it at that.”