Ex-Ferrari star Carlos Sainz has opened up about how it really felt to be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at the iconic F1 team.

The seven-time champion shocked the sporting world in 2024 when he announced before the season had even begun that he would be racing in red for 2025 and beyond, with Sainz displaced as a result.

The Spaniard eventually opted for a switch to Williams after months of speculation over his new team, and halfway through his first season with the Grove-based outfit, Sainz has reflected on the difficult experience.

Not only did Sainz have to give his all for Ferrari knowing they had opted to replace him but he also had to do so for an entire season given the premature nature of Hamilton’s blockbuster announcement.

The decision appeared to light a fire under the Spaniard, who had his best season to date in 2024, taking the top spot on the podium at both the Australian Grand Prix and the Mexican Grand Prix.

In comparison, his new team-mate Alex Albon is currently sat P8 in the drivers’ standings on 46 points which has significantly helped Williams keep hold of their position as best of the rest, sitting fifth in the constructors’.