Former F1 driver claims Ferrari's Carlos Sainz 'messing everything up' amid Lewis Hamilton move

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Saudi Arabia, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Former F1 driver claims Ferrari star 'messing everything up' amid Hamilton move

The former driver claims that the Spaniard's form has ruined Ferrari's plans for 2025

Tyler Rowlinson

Monday 1 April 2024 09:57

Carlos Sainz has had an impressive start to the 2024 season with Ferrari – but former Formula 1 driver Christian Danner believes the Spaniard is “messing everything up” for the team.

Sainz will leave the Maranello squad at the end of the season to make way for the sensational arrival of Lewis Hamilton, who signed a multi-year deal with the team from 2025 onwards.

READ MORE: Mercedes confirm SPECIAL return

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Despite not having a seat confirmed for next season, this has brought out a touch of aggressiveness from Sainz as he has enjoyed a strong start to the year.

The 29-year-old beat team-mate Charles Leclerc, who will partner Hamilton as of next season, at the season opener in Bahrain finishing third, before he was sidelined from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with appendicitis and replaced by young talent Oliver Bearman.

Sainz has beaten Charles Leclerc in his two appearances this season

Sainz performances not helping Hamilton move

On his return in Australia, Sainz put his car on the front row alongside Max Verstappen, overtook him with a brilliant move around the outside before the Dutchman retired with a rear right brake failure, and went on to win the race from Leclerc in a Ferrari one-two.

Sainz’s form will no doubt be catching the attention of the rest of the grid as he searches for his next seat, but according to Danner – who raced with the likes of Zakspeed, Arrows and Osella in F1 in the 1980s – the Spaniard is making life difficult for his team due to his performances.

Speaking with Motorsport-Magazin.com, he said: “At the moment, Carlos Sainz is messing everything up at Ferrari.

“[He's saying] 'Firstly, you’ve signed the wrong driver for next year. Hamilton is lagging behind, I’m much better. Secondly, if you want Hamilton, you’ve kept the wrong one because I’m faster.'"