F1 Chief Stefano Domenicali has stood by Ferrari's choice to let go of Carlos Sainz, the victor of the recent Melbourne race, in favor of signing Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season.
At 29, Sainz faces the challenge of securing a competitive seat for the upcoming year, despite showing form superior to his current Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and even Hamilton.
In a conversation with Italian reporter Leo Turrini about Ferrari's growing competitiveness and the debates around Hamilton, Domenicali questioned: "What does Lewis have to do with it?"
Turrini pointed out that the contention lies in Sainz being sidelined at the peak of his career. "Someone thinks there is no need for a seven time world champion?" Domenicali retorted.
"I understand the reasoning, but it's a wrong reasoning," Domenicali, the ex-Ferrari team leader, expressed to Turrini and Quotidiano.
Domenicali is optimistic about Sainz securing a leading drive for 2025 and beyond.
"I would like to start by saying that Carlos is a gentleman driver and it is no coincidence that he is the man of the market at the moment," Domenicali stated. "He will find a position that is up to his qualities."
"But with Hamilton, Ferrari has made a great decision, not only at a marketing level. It is a strategic choice."
Facing views that Hamilton, nearing 40, may be too aged to bring Ferrari back to its former glory, Domenicali responded: "Who, Lewis?"
"No. I am present at all the races and Hamilton has lost none of his talent and is still hungry for success."
Turrini suggested that Ferrari's current leader, Frederic Vasseur, sees Hamilton as "the new Schumi" – reminiscent of Michael Schumacher's era that ended the team's decades-long title drought.
"Yes," Domenicali agreed, "but there is certainly a difference, and I'm not referring to age, although Michael was much younger when he arrived in Italy."
"Schumi was the absolute dominus while (Eddie) Irvine was clearly the number 2. Lewis will now have to compete with someone as good as Leclerc, who will never accept domestique duties."
"But I believe Fred is perfectly capable of managing the situation that he helped to bring about."
Discussion shifted to Red Bull and Max Verstappen's current reign, which some fans find disengaging.
"I'm surprised you say that," Domenicali chuckled. "Aren't we just coming off a beautiful Ferrari one-two in Australia?"
"Seriously, I understand the objection. We are living in a historical period dominated by Red Bull. But it's nothing new, there have always been cycles in Formula 1. I was at Ferrari when between 1999 and 2008 we won six drivers' titles and eight constructors'."
He quietly anticipates Ferrari's resurgence.
"In my opinion they are working well in Maranello," Domenicali mentioned. "In Melbourne, the Scuderia offered an extraordinary demonstration of competitiveness. Although of course I also continue to consider Verstappen the logical favourite."
"But Ferrari has made a leap forward, separating itself from the other teams, like Mercedes. It's significant - not a small detail."
Lastly, Domenicali was prompted to share thoughts on the controversy engulfing Red Bull's team leader, Christian Horner.
"It's a topic in which I'm completely unfamiliar," the Italian maintains. "So I don't make any comments."
"I simply hope that the image of Formula 1 is respected by everyone who belongs to our world."
