Former Haas team chief Guenther Steiner believes that some of the Ferrari team regret replacing Carlos Sainz with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
The Spaniard found himself on the hunt for a new team after being replaced by the Briton after a four-year stint with Ferrari. After ultimately securing a multi-year contract with Williams, Sainz clinched his first podium finish for the team at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
While debriefing on the race at the Baku City Circuit during The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner was asked if he thought Ferrari may regret replacing Sainz, considering Hamilton is taking some time to adjust to his new team.
“I think some people in the team do,” the former Haas chief responded. “I think obviously management cannot feel regret because you would be admitting that you did something wrong, and you cannot do that, because I’m sure that some of the guys there are feeling regret , because Ferrari finished eighth and ninth in Baku.
“Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, finished third, so it’s like, I guess the guy feeling best about it is Carlos Sainz.”
Later in the episode, Steiner added: “I mean, Carlos was doing a good job. They wouldn’t have all the interference from outside of Lewis not performing, so the team could focus on going racing, making things better, instead of always trying to find out why Lewis doesn’t like the car.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images
“They had a known quantity with Carlos; he could deliver, and Lewis obviously, I mean, I respect Lewis, but in the moment, for the unrest he brings into the team and around the team, is it a worthwhile investment? Maybe not.
“Also, the investment money-wise, I’m pretty sure it’s a lot higher with Lewis than with Carlos.”
While Hamilton won the Chinese sprint race with Ferrari, he is yet to score a grand prix podium with the team. His best finishes so far this season have been fourth place at the Emilia-Romagna, Austrian and British grands prix.
