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Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has indicated that he was not surprised by the news that he will lose his seat at Ferrari to Lewis Hamilton from 2025. “It didn't disappoint me. I experience Ferrari from the inside. I already knew a number of things and I prepared myself with the team for future changes,” said the 29-year-old Spaniard.
Ferrari announced the arrival of seven-time world champion Hamilton last week. Sainz, whose contract expires, stated not much later that he will leave the team at the end of 2024. However, the driver is determined to make his final year a success.
“I'm doing well, I'm calm,” Sainz told Sky Sports. “It is a very important year, my last year with the team and I want to perform as well as I can. I am preparing myself as best I can to give it my all.”
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“Knowing that this is my last year with the team doesn't make it the most normal way to start a season. But the moment I put on my helmet for the first race and hit the track again, you can bet that all I'm thinking about is riding as fast as possible. And if there is an opportunity to become world champion, I will try to take it,” said the Spaniard.
Sainz finished seventh in the World Cup standings last season. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) became world champion for the third time.