Why Mercedes were worried about Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz swap

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One of the biggest stories of the 2024 Formula 1 season has been the departure of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to join Ferrari.

The pairing between the most successful driver and one of the most successful teams in the history of F1 is hotly anticipated, as Hamilton looks to achieve his eighth world title at the wheel of the famous scarlet red car.

A direct consequence of Hamilton moving to Ferrari means that he replaces Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who finally revealed that he would be heading to Williams in a multi-year deal for the midfield team.

Mercedes could have swapped the pair since Sainz was the most high-profile free agent in what has become a busy F1 driver market in 2024. But as journalist Lawrence Edmundson explains on the Unlapped ESPN podcast, there were concerns from the Silver Arrows camp about such a decision.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Mercedes main concern over Carlos Sainz swap

There has been some speculation over whether the Spaniard’s deal with Williams opens the door to a potential drive with their engine partner Mercedes, with it rumoured to be a clause in Sainz’s £8.5 million contract.

The prospect of Sainz joining early was vetoed by Mercedes management due to the optics of the situation according to Edmundson, as they are keen on promoting 17-year-old Andra Kimi Antonelli.

“Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari, Carlos Sainz going to Mercedes. But I think partly for that reason Mercedes were never keen,” said Edmundson.

“They’ve really got their eyes on bringing up Kimi Antonelli, who recently has hit a bit of form in Formula 2 after a very tricky start to the season. It’s still a tricky season on going, but he’s at least hit a little bit of form. And there’s some real positive signs.”

Carlos Sainz was wanted by ‘whole pitlane’ in F1

Given that Sainz is considered to be one of the top drivers on the grid having been one of the few to upset Max Verstappen’s run of wins last season, he was always going to be a man in demand.

The opening at Mercedes would have made sense from a career point of view for Sainz, who is set to make his first move to a car that is not as competitive as his current one for the first time when he switches to Williams.

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

Team principal James Vowles said Sainz was wanted by the ‘whole pitlane’ and spoke of the ’emotional swings’ that nearly stopped him from signing the Spaniard.

Vowles also stated that the contract talks with Sainz went on ‘staggeringly long’ after he revealed that he approached the Spaniard as early as the Abu Dhabi GP last year to replace the underperforming Logan Sargeant.