Sainz insists no hard feelings with Hamilton: 'I would have done the same'

Carlos Sainz has insisted that he holds no grudge towards Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time World Champion made a “no-brainer” decision to join Ferrari.

The seven-time F1 Drivers' champion will replace Sainz at the Scuderia outfit next year, ending his long association with Mercedes, teaming up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari who signed a multi-year contract extension a week prior to Hamilton's announcement.

Sainz has been forced to look for a new team in F1 and has been linked with several projects for 2025, including Mercedes and Stake, the latter of which will become Audi in two years' time.

'I would have done the same'

Having been forced out of the team to make way for Hamilton, Sainz declared that there are no overhanging emotions.

“Well, from my side obviously, no hard feelings with anyone, this is how the sport works,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365.

“I have a lot of respect for Lewis, the success he's had and the choice to join Ferrari, I would have done the same in his position.

“I think Ferrari is a great team and at some point towards the second half of your career, or at the end, I don’t know where he’s at right now, he only knows but for sure, it’s a team you would like to be part of.

“I fully understand that even there's someone like Fred [Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal] that he knows and he has a good relationship with and trusts. It’s a no-brainer, to go to Ferrari.

“From my side, as I said no hard feelings and [I’m] focusing on my future, on where I’m going to go next. In the meantime, [I’ll] keep doing the best I can for this team.”