Carlos Sainz names his four F1 title contenders – and Lewis Hamilton is ignored

Hamilton has replaced Sainz at Ferrari for the 2025 season while the Spaniard has moved to Williams

Carlos Sainz has opted against naming Lewis Hamilton among his picks for the 2025 F1 title.

Hamilton has replaced Sainz at Ferrari for the 2025 season following 12 years and six titles with Mercedes, while the Spanish driver has opted for a long-term project at Williams.

With Sainz set to be battling for top-10 finishes instead of podiums this year, the 30-year-old was asked by Spanish motorsport outlet SoyMotor who his contenders are for this year’s drivers’ title.

When asked between reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Sainz replied: “I think it will be between those first three you have said.

“If Mercedes make a good car, I would put [George] Russell in too. I think he is at a very good level. Any of those can beat each other this year.”

Last week, at Williams’ 2025 car launch at Silverstone, Sainz admitted that Ferrari’s chances of a first drivers’ title in 18 years have only increased with Hamilton’s arrival. Kimi Raikkonen was the Scuderia’s last champion, back in Hamilton’s rookie year in 2007.

“I’ve never been team-mates with Lewis, so I don’t know what he’s capable of doing, I’ve never seen his data,” Sainz said.

“I’ve seen Charles [Leclerc] and I know how good Charles is, but I’ve never been team-mates with Lewis. And the only way you can more or less evaluate a driver is when you’re their team-mate and you see what they’re capable of doing.

“When I judge by results and his background and what he’s achieved, I can only say there is a very high chance that obviously he is going to be competitive at Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz has been replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton (Getty Images)

“But like everything, it will all depend on how well you can adapt to a car, how well you can adapt to a team and in which moment your team-mate is in.

“There are so many variables that it is impossible for me to predict.

“I can only say when I left Ferrari, I did feel the team – both Ferrari and Charles – were ready to fight for a World Championship. And with Lewis joining, that chance only got increased.”

Ferrari launch their 2025 car on Wednesday in Fiorano, a day on from Hamilton and Leclerc appearing in Ferrari colours at the high-octane season launch event, F1 75 Live, at The O2 Arena in London.

The 2025 F1 season starts on 16 March in Australia, with pre-season testing in Bahrain taking place next week, 26-28 February.