Carlos Sainz's dad fires Lewis Hamilton accusation that got his son

Carlos Sainz’s dad fires Lewis Hamilton accusation that got his son…read more

Carlos Sainz Sr. has accused Lewis Hamilton of being the catalyst behind his son’s exit from Ferrari, claiming that Hamilton himself initiated the move to join the Scuderia. The allegations come in the wake of news last season confirming that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025. The switch left Carlos Sainz without a seat, and he subsequently moved to Williams.

Reports from that time suggested that Hamilton had activated an exit clause in his Mercedes contract, as the team was unwilling to offer him the long-term deal he had hoped for. At the time, Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann, was said to have played a key role in facilitating the move, approaching Hamilton to explore his interest in joining the team. This led to an agreement between the two parties. However, Sainz’s father, Carlos Sr., now claims that it was Hamilton himself who reached out to Ferrari, sparking the chain of events that led to his son’s departure from the team.

Speaking to El Cafelito, Sainz Sr. stated, “I wouldn’t describe it as the Scuderia behaving badly. The circumstances of the perfect storm have arisen.” He emphasized that although Ferrari was happy with Carlos as a driver, it was Hamilton’s interest in joining the team that set things in motion. “It is he who approached Ferrari, then the circumstances arose,” Sainz Sr. explained. While admitting that the situation could have been clearer, he noted that Ferrari likely avoided leaks to maintain confidentiality. “Perhaps that process could have been clearer, but then it would have been leaked and Ferrari did not want it to be,” he added.

Despite the change, Sainz left Ferrari on amicable terms. The team agreed to let him join Williams for the post-season Abu Dhabi test and even extended a special gesture to him. Ferrari offered Sainz a private outing at their Fiorano circuit and allowed his father to drive a modern Formula One car, an experience that was particularly meaningful to Carlos Sr., given his minimal experience in motorsports.

Sainz Sr. recalled the day with immense fondness, describing the opportunity as “unbelievable.” He expressed gratitude for the team’s efforts to make his son’s farewell a memorable one, something he believes has been rare in F1 history. He shared, “They gave him a car. They invited me to drive in Fiorano with a Formula One car. I have no experience in any formula championship, very, very little, so for me it was a big thing. I really enjoyed it a lot.”

Reflecting on the experience, Carlos Sr. added that driving a modern F1 car was an incredible feeling, highlighting the power, handling, and braking that made the experience unforgettable. “It was an unbelievable day. I will never forget it because we really had good fun, and obviously, the experience to drive a modern Formula One car was unbelievable,” he said.