Sainz Questions His Peak Form as Ferrari Exit Looms

As Carlos Sainz questions his peak performance in F1, his upcoming departure from Ferrari adds a layer of uncertainty to his career.

The Spaniard will leave the Italian team, his home for four years, at the end of the season, and Lewis Hamilton will replace him at Scuderia.

This news was announced before the start of the 2024 season, which the 29-year-old driver began in great form.

Despite missing the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis, Sainz achieved two podiums and a victory in the four races he participated in.

“Am I at my best level? I don’t know.”

“Of course, it’s my best start to the season since I joined Ferrari. I think that’s no secret.”

“It’s a difficult question to answer. Obviously, it looks like it because the podiums are coming and the results are visible.”

Even though Sainz is performing at this level, it is still unclear where he might end up in 2025. Audi is still waiting for his response, but the Spaniard himself is waiting to see what will happen between Max Verstappen, Red Bull, and Mercedes to secure a more competitive seat in the short term.

But wherever he ends up, Sainz believes he has proven his performance capabilities at a high level throughout his career.

“I’ve also been at my best at McLaren, I’ve been at my best at Toro Rosso.”

“So, what changes is the car – some years you have a better car than others. Some years you have a better qualifying car or a better race car.”

“This year, we seem to have a good compromise between qualifying and the race. I think I’m driving at a very good level, but I’ve been at a good level in F1 before. Honestly, I’d have to sift through my last nine years to answer! It’s a lot to think about.”