What Ferrari insiders have said ‘off the record’ about Carlos Sainz returning to replace Lewis Hamilton

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Lewis Hamilton will be desperate to silence many of his doubters once the summer break ends at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Ferrari are still yet to win their first race, and while that can’t be pinned on Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc individually, the seven-time world champion will know he needs to close the gap to his teammate over the next 10 race weekends.

Leclerc currently leads Hamilton by 42 points in the drivers’ championship, and the Monegasque driver has secured all five of Ferrari’s Grand Prix podiums.

What might be more concerning for Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is Hamilton’s public outbursts decrying a lack of confidence in himself, rather than his car.

After qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton told Ferrari they might need to ‘change drivers’, and it’s not the first time he’s played down his ability, after admitting last season that he couldn’t qualify anymore in Las Vegas.

Hamilton has been suffering from a lack of confidence, and there may be figures within the Scuderia wondering whether they should have brought him in to replace Carlos Sainz.

Arturo Merzario believes 90% of Ferrari staff didn’t want Hamilton, but journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm has shared a different picture of what those at Maranello are saying about him and a potential return for the 30-year-old Spaniard.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari staff stating ‘off the record’ that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will continue next season

It’s emerged that Sainz was Christian Horner’s Plan B if Verstappen decided to leave Red Bull at the end of the season before the team principal’s sacking.

Mitchell-Malm was speaking about Sainz and his old team Ferrari on The Race F1 Podcast, and he explained: “There’s been no suggestion at all, certainly from those I’ve spoken to, senior people at Ferrari, both on the record and off the record and don’t think there is any expectation other than continuing with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

“I think Sainz would actually be more welcome back at Ferrari than maybe some people think, because I know that there is this kind of division amongst the fan bases and there is this belief that Sainz and his entourage were toxic and he’s left on bad terms and all of this.

“But I’ve literally seen both Carlos and people around him in his camp walk various people in and around Ferrari hospitality and the garage and stuff like that. And he’s incredibly highly thought of within that organisation.

“So I think you’d be welcome back there. I think there will be plenty of people who, and this is not a comment relating to Hamilton’s performance, there are a lot of people there who would have been absolutely fine with Sainz continuing and wouldn’t have thought it was worth replacing him because he was doing a very, very good job there.

“But, I just don’t see it happening unless your prediction for an unlikely thing to happen comes true, and Lewis does walk away.

“Then I think Sainz would be a fairly logical person. But I think in that instance, Ferrari might just take a punt on promoting Ollie Bearman.”

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

Charles Leclerc wishes he had one Carlos Sainz attribute at Ferrari

Sainz and Leclerc were very effective teammates at Ferrari, even if they fell short of winning the constructors’ championship last year.

After four seasons together, they could barely be separated, but Leclerc’s marginally better results and longevity within the set-up meant he was the obvious choice to partner Hamilton once he became available.

Leclerc has admitted he’s envious of Sainz’s adaptability, a skill he’s developed having moved teams so often since the start of his Formula 1 career.

Hamilton controls an option in his Ferrari contract that could allow him to stay with the team until the end of 2027.

Eventually, the time will come when the seven-time world champion decides to retire, and while Oliver Bearman seems like Ferrari’s next logical driver, Sainz might put his hat in the ring if Williams don’t live up to their potential.