Martin Brundle suggests ‘world-class’ F1 driver now has a damaged reputation

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Martin Brundle believes Carlos Sainz is a ‘world-class’ driver but Ferrari dropping the Spaniard to sign Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes might have damaged his reputation.

The Scuderia stole the spotlight from football’s transfer deadline day at the start of February by signing Hamilton. Talks were underway in Maranello about Ferrari potentially giving Sainz a new contract. But Hamilton’s availability was too good for president John Elkann to ignore.

Ferrari scrapped their negotiations with Sainz once Elkann learned that Hamilton included a release clause in his contract at Mercedes. The 39-year-old only signed up for the 2024 and 2025 seasons at the Silver Arrows in August. But he can walk away from Brackley after 2024.

Carlos Sainz is ‘gunning’ to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

Sainz was the unfortunate victim of Ferrari signing Hamilton up as the 29-year-old’s existing contract expires after 2024. While the Scuderia also gave Charles Leclerc a fresh deal during January. Now, Sainz is without a seat for 2025 and Mercedes have one they need to occupy.

It is possible that Mercedes target Sainz to replace Hamilton, while Rebecca Clancy reports that the Madrid native is ‘gunning’ for the seat. Sainz has been on the Formula 1 grid since 2015 with Toro Rosso, before spells with Renault (2017-18), McLaren (2019-20) and Ferrari.

Martin Brundle feels Ferrari may have damaged Carlos Sainz’s reputation

Sainz was also the only non-Red Bull driver to win one of the 22 Grand Prix last season. The Red Bull driver academy product drove brilliantly to defend from Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren pilot Lando Norris to win the Singapore GP from his fifth career pole position.

It was also only Sainz’s second Grand Prix victory after the 2022 British GP. Yet Ferrari chose to sign Hamilton up for 2025 and leave Sainz with an uncertain future. In doing so, Brundle also suggests the Scuderia may have damaged the reputation of the ‘world-class’ F1 driver.

“The problem is that if you’re Mercedes-Benz, you know, he’s been kicked out of Ferrari, do you wanna? Does that have the right feel to take, sort of, Ferrari’s cast-off?” Brundle said on Sky Sports F1 (28/2, 15:54).

“Even if it was for Lewis Hamilton. That’s the cruel aspect of this. I think the kid’s world-class and I think he’ll get a good seat.”