Sky F1 pundit highlights 'clumsy' Carlos Sainz moment that cost Ferrari championship win
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Scuderia Ferrari carried their fight for the Constructors' Championship down to the wire in Abu Dhabi at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, but rivals McLaren unfortunately clinched the title in the end, leaving the Scuderia narrowly defeated.
The season began with what appeared to be another year of Red Bull dominance. Max Verstappen claimed seven victories in the first 10 races, including three one-two finishes alongside teammate Sergio Perez, signaling a continuation of their 2023 supremacy.
However, the tide turned dramatically after the Spanish Grand Prix. Red Bull's performance took a sudden and unexpected dip, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes catching up in the development race. This downturn coincided with Verstappen enduring a frustrating 10-race winless streak. Despite the challenges, the Dutchman managed to secure consistent results, even as the RB20 became increasingly difficult to handle. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, struggled significantly, failing to secure a top-five finish after Miami and enduring four retirements and as many non-points finishes for the remainder of the season—a major factor in Red Bull’s exit from the championship battle.
While Red Bull faltered, McLaren and Ferrari rose to the occasion. Between the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya and the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, McLaren claimed four victories, while Ferrari secured three. During this period, Verstappen managed to edge closer to the drivers’ title, but the team's lack of consistent performance prevented Red Bull from reasserting their dominance.
The Constructors' Championship came down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. Carlos Sainz's second-place finish and Charles Leclerc's remarkable climb from 19th to third showcased Ferrari's resilience, but Lando Norris sealed the title for McLaren with a race win. McLaren finished 14 points clear of Ferrari, leaving the Scuderia to reflect on what might have been.
Karun Chandhok pointed to Carlos Sainz's costly crash in Baku as the defining moment of Ferrari's season. While the team faced several setbacks—such as a double retirement in Canada, the failure of a major upgrade in Barcelona, and Charles Leclerc's back-to-back disastrous weekends in Spielberg and Silverstone— Karun Chandhok believes the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was pivotal. In the closing laps, Carlos Sainz was battling Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez for second place when a collision with the Red Bull on the back straight took both cars out of contention. According to the Indian former racing driver and broadcaster, this “clumsy” incident ultimately swung the championship away from the Maranello team, overshadowing their otherwise commendable season.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Karun Chandhok said: "Actually when you look back at the season, all it kind of hinged on is Baku. If Carlos Sainz and Perez hadn't have had that awkward crash with a lap or so to go, then Ferrari would have been constructors' champions. That was the difference because Lando gained a couple of places and Carlos would have been second or third which would have been 18 or 15 points and that would have been enough. For me, that crash was kind of a clumsy one, wasn't it? It was like an unnecessary, it was just a clumsy, unnecessary accident, I felt. It's just one of those frustrating, unlucky things where both drivers are heading for the same bit of road at the same time." – he pointed out.
Can Carlos Sainz Thrive at Williams in 2025 After Departing the Maranello team?
As Carlos Sainz prepares for the 2025 Formula 1 season, he faces a significant career shift, leaving Ferrari after four seasons to make room for Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard, now 30 years old, will join Alex Albon at Williams, a move that has sparked considerable debate among fans and pundits alike.
The former McLaren driver’s decision to move to the Grove-based team has raised eyebrows, given he is stepping away from Ferrari—a team that finished as the second-best constructor in 2024—to join a squad that ended the season second to last. With limited seats available for 2025, questions linger about whether this was the best option for Carlos Sainz to maintain his momentum in Formula 1.
Williams, however, is undergoing a transformation, with substantial off-track investments aimed at improving their on-track performance. Team principal James Vowles believes Carlos Sainz's presence is already influencing the team positively, bringing renewed focus and energy. According to James Vowles, the arrival of the four-time race winner provides Williams with “two leaders” in the driver lineup, enhancing their chances of returning to their once-dominant form.
Sky Sports pundit Ted Kravitz, however, warns that Williams must “step up” to match the caliber of their new signing. Unlike previous drivers such as Nicholas Latifi, Logan Sargeant, and Franco Colapinto, Sainz brings a wealth of experience and credibility as a proven race winner. Kravitz stresses that the team must deliver a car capable of at least challenging the midfield if they are to capitalize on Carlos Sainz's abilities.
Carlos Sainz himself has downplayed concerns about moving to a struggling team, insisting that Williams is “100% not a step back” from Ferrari. For him, staying in Formula 1 and contributing to an ambitious project is what matters most. However, the central question remains: can Carlos Sainz deliver results in a car that, despite ongoing improvements, is likely to start the 2025 season near the back of the grid? His performance at Williams will undoubtedly be under the spotlight, as the F1 world watches to see if he can elevate the team to new heights.
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