LEWIS HAMILTON’s move to Ferrari caught the team’s current driver – Carlos Sainz – by surprise.
Hamilton stunned the sport last month when it was announced that he was quitting Mercedes to join F1’s most-famous team in 2025.
The Brit, 39, activated a break clause in his Mercedes deal to allow him to join the Italian outfit at the expense of Sainz, who has been shown the door.
The Spaniard, who was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race last year, was quizzed about Hamilton’s arrival next season.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s Ferrari challenger, Sainz said: “I was a bit surprised, like everyone in the Formula One world.
“From my side you can understand I got to know the news a bit earlier than anyone else and I had some weeks to reflect and prepare and some weeks to also get ready for the car launch and the first race of the season.
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“That gave me a bit of time to digest it and to draw my own conclusions and to focus on the 2024 season.
“I have had a lot of messages of support which I would like to thank the F1 world for and friends back at home, who have been very supportive and very encouraging.”
Sainz, 29, will now spend this season looking for a seat for the 2025 campaign.
He added: “My next team, I don’t know yet and I have time to decide when that happens next. There are plenty of options out there.
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“I am approaching the most important three or four years of my career and I want to make sure that I am in the right place.
“I am going to listen to all the options so when I make the decision I have given myself enough time with enough information.”
Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc who has a new long-term deal with Ferrari.
And the 26-year-old says he has welcomed the seven-time world champion into the team and – unlike Sainz – was not shocked by the move.
He added: “This kind of deal is not finalised overnight. It takes time and I was aware of those discussions before I signed my deal so it did not come as a surprise.
“Obviously, Lewis is an incredible driver, the most successful in history, with a lot of experience which he brings to the team which is a good thing.
“I have had discussions with Lewis especially when everything was announced and official. We texted each other.
“Lewis is a great champion with so much success.
“It is always interesting to have a new team-mate, because you learn different ways of driving and working, and even more so when my new team-mate is a seven-time world champion.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
