Earlier in the season, some questioned whether Ferrari had made a mistake in allowing Carlos Sainz to leave and signing Lewis Hamilton. Sainz was enjoying arguably a career-best run of form, while Hamilton made his poorest-ever start to a season.

Sainz scored podiums in the first three races that he started in 2024, winning the Australian Grand Prix just two weeks after undergoing an appendectomy that ruled him out of the Saudi Arabian GP. Had he been able to race in Jeddah, it’s conceivable that he would have led the championship after four rounds.

Mercedes, meanwhile, were as far off the pace as they had been at any point in F1’s ground effect era. Hamilton wouldn’t finish in the top six until Miami, and had to wait until the 10th race in Barcelona for his first podium.

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

To a degree, he was limited by his machinery, but George Russell was consistently able to extract more from the car. Russell leads Hamilton 10-4 in qualifying this year, and he also beat him in six of the first eight races that both drivers finished.

But Ferrari never seemed worried. Indeed, Fred Vasseur recently pointed out that Hamilton is ahead of Russell in the championship, for all the talk about the 26-year-old’s superiority.

The seven-time world champion actually has a 34-point cushion ahead of the final 10 races, though that largely stems from Russell’s mechanical retirement at Silverstone and disqualification in Belgium. Intriguingly, he’s also just eight points behind Sainz after a run of two wins in three following Mercedes’ recent breakthrough.

Ferrari chief John Elkann says Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso show most ‘consistency’

Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Ferrari chairman John Elkann said Hamilton’s ‘experience’ was key to his appeal. In addition to being the most successful driver on the grid, he also ranks second behind Fernando Alonso for race starts (346).

Hamilton will soon overtake Kimi Raikkonen (349) for second on the all-time list. In Elkann’s eyes, experience translates to consistency – a point former Ferrari driver Alonso all proves.

The 48-year-old believes that this attribute could make all the difference next season given the current competitive landscape. Max Verstappen has only won three of the last nine races, but he’s managed to extend his championship lead in that time by reaching his ‘maximum potential’ almost every weekend.

Sainz is also a veteran – he’ll hit 200 race starts at the Singapore Grand Prix next month. But equally, he entered F1 a full eight years later than Hamilton.

“In Formula 1 there is real competition now, with four teams very close together: Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes,” Elkann said. “It is important to always reach your maximum potential.

“Those with more experience have more consistency, as demonstrated by Hamilton and also Alonso himself. And consistency counts.”

How Carlos Sainz first reacted to Lewis Hamilton move

Elkann also compared Hamilton to Lionel Messi given their longevity at the highest level. Hamilton’s victory in Silverstone last month came 17 years after his maiden triumph – the longest such gap in F1 history.

Ferrari’s decision is ultimately a reflection of Hamilton’s greatness rather than Sainz’s weaknesses. But that will offer little consolation to the Spaniard as he prepares to drop towards the foot of the midfield with Williams.

The team have been impressed with how he’s conducted himself since learning of his fate. According to Fred Vasseur, Sainz immediately vowed to keep pushing when he heard the news.

He’ll be careful to ensure he preserves some key relationships before he leaves. Damon Hill believes Sainz could return to Ferrari in 2027, should Hamilton decide to retire at the end of his initial contract term.