Did Carlos Sainz settle for less? If you look at the bigger picture then maybe, he did. Sainz was the only driver to have won a race in three consecutive years of Red Bull’s dominance. However, this wasn’t enough to convince Ferrari. Neither were his stats enough to find a worthy alternative to the Prancing Horses. The Spaniard was sacrificed by Ferrari in the name of Lewis Hamilton. He was divided between the track and the phone. The aim was to get a bigger role in a better team. Did it work? This question needs no answers.

Carlos Sainz hoped for a seat at Red Bull or Mercedes. The Silver Arrows focused on Kimi Antonelli and offered Sainz only a one-year deal. Red Bull didn’t part ways with Sergio Perez or Max Verstappen. By the Belgian GP, Sainz had no top-team options. Moreover, James Vowles was consistent in his proposal by not making excessive promises. This played a role in the choice of the Spaniard, who however went more by exclusion than anything else.

Williams’ history in F1 is glorious. But we have to look at the team in the present tense. “It is impossible not to define Sainz’s choice as a stopgap or at least a risky gamble for 2026,” Formula Passion reported. His only choice was Williams; he avoided Audi and Alpine due to instability and Haas was never an option. Sainz truly had nowhere to go. Ferrari has shut the doors on him, although he could have asked them to keep him as a reserve.

It could be his anger or disappointment that barred him from making any requests. Aston Martin and McLaren have built their teams. Mercedes and Red Bull were considered unlikely. With all glitz and glam gone, the Belgian GP not only highlighted Sainz’s situation but posed a threat to Ferrari’s championship hopes. Sainz’s move to Williams may indicate a loss of talent and could significantly impact Ferrari’s performance.

Carlos Sainz’s P6 at the Belgian GP is a message for Ferrari

Recent history shows few drivers in top form moving from a top team to a lower one, with Damon Hill’s move from Williams to Arrows being a notable example. However, Carlos Sainz’s transition is likely to impact Ferrari’s results in the second phase of the season. At the beginning of the season, ‘Chilli’ was in his top form. He had a point to prove to the Reds. Their decision to replace him with Lewis Hamilton was not right. And he was the one who had to put himself on display with the other teams to have a competitive car. Sainz had a 3-0 record against Charles Leclerc in the first four races. However as more races passed, Carlos seems to have made peace with his fate.

His pace lowered and he kept missing the top spots. Carlos Sainz ran an anonymous and disarmed race in Spa-Francorchamps, finishing P6. With the Williams contract signed, the Spaniard had nothing else to lose. Sainz might lose his competitive edge and become passive, potentially affecting Ferrari’s performance in the latter part of 2024.  It is no longer anger but acceptance of his fate. Sainz’s plus points are gradually turning into drawbacks which could mess up Ferrari’s strategies for the later half of the season.

Is this the right way to end the Ferrari stint? Only Carlos can answer it. Meanwhile, Sainz may truly not unleash the beast mode we witnessed in Singapore last year. It is indeed disheartening to see a capable driver lose his luster due to the disappointment he faced this season. However, Carlos Sainz claims to be happy that the 7x world champion is replacing him. Moreover, he has assured his commitment to Williams. What’s your take on his answer? Share in the comments below.