Ferrari better off sticking with Sainz rather than Hamilton?

Five races into the partnership, and despite Hamilton’s masterful win in the China Sprint Race, the rewards have been limited. While the SF-25 has hardly flattered its drivers, Charles Leclerc appears more at ease with the car, while Hamilton has yet to find a consistent rhythm.

With this in mind, questions are beginning to surface about Ferrari’s decision to part ways with Carlos Sainz. If the goal was immediate results, Sainz may have been the safer option. Hamilton brings enormous commercial value—but a car he can drive is still crucial for success on all fronts.

By his own admission, Hamilton had a “horrible” weekend last time out in Saudi Arabia, and his soundbites have followed a familiar theme: managing expectations while he tries to come to terms with what he has described as a “strange” Ferrari.

One figure who believes Ferrari may have erred is former F1 driver turned TV pundit Marc Surer, he said: “Ferrari would have a better chance if they kept Carlos. He knows Ferrari well, and he often delivered when Leclerc couldn’t.

“Marketing-wise, of course, Lewis Hamilton is much better. He’s the most globally recognised F1 driver. His arrival boosted Ferrari’s brand hugely—they sold out of merchandise after his announcement. But purely on performance? They would have been better off sticking with Sainz.”

Surer continued, reflecting on Hamilton’s current struggles: “It reminds me of his situation at Mercedes since the ground effect regulations came in. He hasn’t looked like the old Lewis Hamilton. Now he’s at Ferrari, and it’s basically the same story - struggling with the car, not his usual self.

“He’s always had perfect cars—McLaren when they were strong, Mercedes when they dominated. But now, he has to fight. And he’s not as good at dealing with that as drivers like Verstappen or Alonso.”

Team-switching troubles have not been unique to Hamilton. Every driver who changed teams from 2024 to 2025 has struggled to adapt. Sainz endured a torrid start at Williams before finally showing strong pace in Saudi Arabia. Rookies have also found the transition tough.

Liam Lawson was dropped after just two races in the Red Bull RB21, and his replacement Yuki Tsunoda has not fared much better—bending metal as he attempts to chase Verstappen in vain. Across the grid, drivers with new machinery have found life difficult.

With the exception of the China Sprint Race anomaly, Hamilton may need to take a leaf out of Sainz’s book if he wants to turn his form around. Notably, British media have been soft on reporting Hamilton's woes, unlike Lawson for instance.