Hill: Sainz should take Red Bull not signing him as a ‘compliment’
Carlos Sainz will join Williams for the 2025 season, and although the Spaniard admitted that he was initially upset about not being able to sign a deal with a top-tier team for next year, he said he has “come to terms” with the situation.
Sainz revealed that he had held talks with all the teams that had an open seat during his free period, but Red Bull and Mercedes preferred to sign Sergio Perez and promising rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli respectively. “It was difficult at the time, we all have egos, I have a racing ego, I didn’t understand it at the time,” Sainz told Sky F1.
“Even though I still don’t personally understand some of the choices people are making, it makes me more motivated and more excited for Williams,” he said.
Following this interview, Damon Hill stated that Sainz is a driver who can add value to any team on the grid. The former Williams driver stated that Max Verstappen has the “number one” status in the team and emphasized that it was a “compliment” for Red Bull not to choose Sainz.
“He is a consummate professional. I think every team would benefit from having Carlos there,” Hill said of Sainz.
“Maybe he is a little sad to leave Ferrari because he has given so much to the team.”
“How can you really criticize him? Maybe he’s not as fast as Charles Leclerc at times, but he’s an absolutely brilliant racing driver.”
“Ultimately he’s going to another team. I take it as a compliment that he’s not going to Red Bull.”
Hill admitted it was difficult to find out Sainz would be leaving Ferrari before the start of the season, but said he could take some solace in the fact that his replacement is the most successful driver in the sport.
“I think it’s very difficult,” Hill told a previous episode of the Sky F1 podcast. “I’m sure he feels he’s put his heart and soul into Ferrari and hasn’t left them wanting in any way.”
“They chose a tremendous figure like Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton’s reputation, his fame, his implications are enormous. It’s very difficult to be angry when you’re replaced by someone like that.”
“I think it would be a bit of a relief for him to be replaced by a seven-time world champion, someone with over 100 grand prix victories, rather than a less accomplished driver.”
