Ex-F1 driver says Sainz 'commitment' causing Ferrari issues

Carlos Sainz has had an impressive start to the 2024 season with Ferrari – but former F1 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.

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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 season.

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 was replaced by young talent Oliver Bearman.

Danner: Sainz messing everything up for Ferrari

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 1-2.

Sainz’ form will no doubt be catching the attention from 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 1980’s – 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.

“’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’.

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“If I, as a future number one driver, am blown away by the fired driver, that’s difficult,” he added.

“Sainz goes at it with a commitment, a joy and an aggressiveness that I really like!

“It also requires a fervent attitude: ‘Now it’s me and nobody else’. You can see that not only in his eyes, but in every corner.”

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