Ferrari is putting on a farewell for Carlos Sainz at their Maranello headquarters to thank him for his services over the past four seasons.
Although it was not the dream ending to their partnership with Ferrari winning the Constructors’ Championship in Abu Dhabi, the Spaniard at least managed to enjoy one final race win in Mexico.
After dominating the Mexico City Grand Prix by taking pole, fastest lap, and the race victory, Sainz broke a 16-year Ferrari record with his second victory of the season.
It was the first time both Ferrari drivers have won more than one Grand Prix in a single season since 2008, capping off a competitive year for the Scuderia. As a thank you for his services, the team has put on a special event in the final days of 2024 to celebrate their partnership.
As part of the festivities Sainz’s father, Carlos Sainz Sr, will be given a chance to drive one of his Ferrari’s from the last four years according to a report by Soy Motor.
Carlos Sainz Sr to drive Ferrari F1-75 at Maranello
Sainz Sr is a motorsport legend in his own right, having won the World Rally Championship twice in 1990 and 1992, and was on hand for his son’s final race with Ferrari in Abu Dhabi.
After the race, Sainz Sr was spotted with his son in the Ferrari hospitality unit in tears while watching a video that showed his time at the team.
With the two present at Maranello, Sainz Sr will be given the opportunity to drive his son’s Ferrari from the 2022 season, the F1-75, in which he won his first race at the British Grand Prix.
It is not the first time Sainz Sr has driven an F1 car, having been given the opportunity to drive Fernando Alonso’s championship-winning Renault R25 in 2006 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Why Ferrari chose to replace Carlos Sainz for 2025
Sainz finished the 2024 season 51 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ standings, leading to questions over why Ferrari has chosen to replace him after such a strong performance.
The Spaniard also came back from appendicitis earlier in the year and won at Melbourne, showcasing his commitment to the team with his impressive recovery.
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He is one of the most capable drivers on the grid, but the lure of having the seven-time world champion coupled with the most successful team in F1 is a decision Sainz said he now understands ‘100%’.
The move to Ferrari is likely to be Hamilton’s final in F1 before retirement as he attempts to win an eighth world championship. Sainz will be making a step back to Williams, although his strong final year at Ferrari is likely to have put him on the radar for some teams heading into F1’s 2026 rule changes.
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