F1 star forced to accept HILARIOUS Christmas gift

Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, Abu Dhabi, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 star forced to accept HILARIOUS Christmas gift

Carlos Sainz will leave Ferrari in 2025

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Monday 23 December 2024 01:00

Carlos Sainz has been forced into accepting a hilarious Christmas present from a fellow Formula 1 driver.

The Spaniard's holiday season will be tinged with a little regret, as he prepares to leave Ferrari for under-performing Williams, but has been handed a great gift after underestimating a rival.

READ MORE: Hamilton set to ditch key partner

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In his final season for Ferrari, Sainz achieved two spectacular wins in Australia and Mexico, with the former occurring only weeks after receiving surgery on his appendix.

However, Sainz will part ways with the Scuderia next season, and instead joins Williams for 2025 and beyond.

Carlos Sainz debuts with Williams during Abu Dhabi tyre test

Lewis Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc in 2025

Sainz forced into Secret Santa forfeit

The Chinese driver will be leaving the grid in 2025, after he was sacked from Sauber and failed to find a seat elsewhere.

His departing gift to Sainz came in the form of a chilli costume, a reference to the Spaniard’s nickname from his karting days.

Since his ‘chilli’ nickname emerged, Sainz has sported a chilli bucket hat and was pictured in the Abu Dhabi paddock wearing the gifted chilli costume.

However, the former Ferrari star only agreed to wear the costume if Zhou scored a point with Sauber, a feat he finally achieved at the Qatar Grand Prix where he finished P8.

As Sainz departs from Ferrari next season, Zhou has been tipped to join the team as their reserve driver in 2025 after the axed star confirmed talks regarding the role.

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Charles Leclerc Carlos Sainz Williams Abu Dhabi