F1 CEO Defends Lewis Hamilton Against “Wrong” Accusations Created by Carlos Sainz’s Performance

A Betrayal is what Carlos Sainz might have felt in February when Ferrari announced Lewis Hamilton‘s signing. This allowed the Spaniard to go ham in the first 3 race weekends of 2024, his last year with the team. His victory at the Australian Grand Prix might have produced the biggest buyer’s remorse for Team Principal Frederic Vasseur. Moreover, his scintillating performances have now raised a great question. Has Ferrari made their biggest mistake by firing him for Hamilton?

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has a clear stance on the matter. Being a former Team Principal for the Maranello stable, he knows how the team operates, to a certain extent. So he believes that Sainz will get a permanent seat in the future to match his qualities. But that doesn’t mean that Frederic Vasseur has made a blunder by signing Hamilton.

Renowned Italian Journalist Leo Turrini interviewed the Italian F1 Boss recently. In one segment, he left a leading question on the table: “Sainz started going so fast that…”. Domenicali immediately answered: “…That Some people think there is no need for the seven-time world champion. I know the reasoning. But that’s the wrong reasoning. I’ll start by saying that Carlos is a great driver and it’s no coincidence that he’s the man on the market at the moment. You will find accommodation that matches your qualities. But with Hamilton, Ferrari has done a great job, not only in terms of marketing. It’s a strategic choice, that’s it.”

Carlos Sainz might indeed be quicker now as a result of having nothing to lose. However, when it comes to Lewis Hamilton, he isn’t too far from controversy and naysayers either. With many suggesting that the Briton’s performance has become considerably slower, Domenicali also showed his confidence in the driver and asserted that he still has it in him to dominate the circuit.

Stefano Domenicali weighs in on Lewis Hamilton’s loss of performance

“I’m gonna lift Mercedes as high as I can this year,” Hamilton told GQ as a response to critics questioning his commitment in the last year for the Silver Arrows. Despite Russell outqualifying the 7x champ consistently, Domenicali believes that it is just a matter of time before the legend of Lewis Hamilton resurrects.

“I’m present at all the races, Hamilton hasn’t lost any of his talent and he’s still hungry for success,” Domenicali affirmed to Turrini. The Formula 1 CEO being so optimistic about Hamilton’s caliber should be more than enough to shut the critics.

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