P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has revealed why he chose to tell Carlos Sainz he would not be retained so early in the year.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explained why he informed Carlos Sainz early in the year that he would not be re-signed. This decision came after Lewis Hamilton was confirmed to join the team in 2025, ending Sainz’s tenure. Vasseur believed that making the announcement in February would allow Sainz to focus on the current season, given his professionalism and consistency. Despite off-track distractions, Sainz performed well on the track, securing podium finishes and maintaining good points. Vasseur praised Sainz’s behavior and emphasized that the distraction of his uncertain future did not affect his performance. The media attention regarding Sainz’s next move increased leading up to the summer break, but Vasseur highlighted Sainz’s strong performance in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix as evidence of his professionalism.
