With every race weekend, Carlos Sainz is making Ferrari regret its decision to let him go. Despite the stellar performances, he is without a contract for 2025 right now. Before the Japanese GP, the Spaniard said that his entourage was in contact with “all” teams for a 2025 seat. That mystery intensified after his ravishing performance to secure a podium at Suzuka with F1 Champion Damon Hill highlighting the travesty of Sainz becoming ‘jobless’ the next year.

The Ferrari driver lined up in P4 on the starting grid today. But with Ferrari’s smart strategy, he outshined Lando Norris, who started P3, to secure the third step on the podium. For F1 fans, Sainz standing tall on the podium has become as consistent as Max Verstappen winning. Moreover, with the 2nd Red Bull seat yet to be filled for 2025, the Spaniard’s hopes of driving for a championship contender are sustained.

“I think it would be an absolute tragedy if Carlos Sainz doesn’t find a top seat next year,” Hill said after the Japanese GP, “He deserves to be in a top team. Look at his drive today.” But the 1996 F1 champion believes that the Red Bull doors are shut for Sainz because Verstappen and his family have control over how the team operates. “Mercedes is the only option,” Hill said. “Red Bull won’t work with Max. The team is run by the Verstappen family.”

Sainz, contrastingly isn’t focusing too much on what next year holds. The contract talks might be ongoing in the background but his focus is still on dedicated improvement with Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz applauds Ferrari’s strategic progress after the Japanese GP podium

Ferrari have been known for their botched strategy calls in F1. It has cost them a lot of potential wins and podiums with Charles Leclerc, facing the after-effects of it since he joined the Maranello outfit. But Carlos Sainz believes that the strategic management area of the team has improved consistently.

“I think we’ve made progress on strategy over the last three years, progressively,” the Ferrari driver said post-race, “But if you see a jump this year on strategy, it’s purely down to the car. I think just having a car that allows you to have flexibility on strategy is something that last year we couldn’t have.”

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Unfortunately for Sainz, he won’t get to fully embrace the improvements that the team makes next year onwards. Nonetheless, it should be a good farewell for the 3-time Grand Prix winner.

“I Should Stay at Home”: Charles Leclerc Deals Harsh Blow to Fred Vasseur’s Carlos Sainz Favouritism, Demoralised Following Japanese GP