Sainz reveals feel-good reason behind Ferrari exit

Carlos Sainz has voiced pride after enjoying a strong final campaign at Ferrari despite knowing pre-season he would be leaving the team.

Ferrari announced in the build-up to the 2024 championship that Sainz would leave the squad at the end of the year after it penned a deal with seven-time title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Sainz enjoyed his most successful season to date, scoring two race wins and nine podiums as well as bagging 290 points - the highest of his career.

It was also a strong season for Ferrari, although the Scuderia fell agonisingly short of its first constructors' championship in 16 years.

The Spaniard outlined the mental challenge he had to juggle in keeping up motivation alongside the knowledge he was departing the Italian outfit.

“This last year was a very tough year mentally and very challenging with the news at the beginning of the year to keep the motivation up, to keep the determination, to keep pushing through the whole year with a 24-race calendar and not letting myself get too deflated at times,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365.

“It's been a big challenge that I managed to respond with good strength and determination to finish the year strongly and to finish the year with a few podiums, with a win in Mexico and helping the team to dream about the constructors' title.”

Sainz focus strength

Sainz is one of several drivers who departed their team at the end of the campaign, with six teams confirmed to have new line-ups next year.

The 30-year-old stated his ability to keep focused despite the pending exit was not commonplace across the rest of the outgoing drivers.

“We’ve seen that it was not easy for any other driver that was leaving a team to keep that focus and that motivation up through the whole year,” he said.

“And I managed to do that, and that's what makes me feel good about this year and my lasting of this season.”