Vasseur open to Sainz F1 reunion at Ferrari

Frederic Vasseur has said he would like to work with Carlos Sainz in F1 in the future with the Spaniard leaving Ferrari for Williams at the end of the season.

As team principal of the Scuderia, Vasseur had to make the tough call to replace the 30-year-old, who will make way for seven-time drivers’ champion Lewis Hamilton.

However, given the calibre of the outgoing Mercedes driver, that says more about Hamilton than it does about Sainz, who had been in the process of negotiating an extension with Ferrari when the opportunity to sign the Briton arose.

That paved the way for Sainz to join Williams, a team that began its prolonged courtship of the three-time grand prix winner in Abu Dhabi last year, long before it was known he would be available for 2025.

Despite parting ways after this season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with James Vowles wanting his new driver for the post-season test, Vasseur would relish the opportunity to team up with Sainz again down the line.

“Yeah, for sure,” he replied to media including RacingNews365 when asked if he would like to.

“Honestly, I have a huge respect for Carlos and what he did for Ferrari. As you know, this call [to replace him] was not an easy one.”

Vasseur has previously said his motivation for confirming the Hamilton news so early was to allow Sainz the time to process the development and charter his next steps in F1 in his own time.

The Ferrari driver did just that, taking six months to come to a decision, with his Williams move announced in early August.

What has impressed Vasseur is that through the turbulence of finding a new home in F1, Sainz has been able to “stay professional” and do a “very good job” for the Maranello-based squad.

“He’s doing a very good job. He was able to stay professional in these tough conditions,” the Frenchman said.

“I can see perfectly what he’s bringing to the team, what he brought to the team last year.”

“He was part of the recovery last year when we had a tough momentum in the summer and I’m more than pleased to have Carlos, and I will keep a very good relationship with him.”