Carlos Sainz has beaten Charles Leclerc in all three races they've both competed this season so far, but former F1 race winner Thierry Boutsen feels Ferrari have made the right choice in sticking with the latter to team up with Lewis Hamilton next year.
The F1 grid is set to look vastly different next year when Hamilton pulls on the famous red race suit for Ferrari.
The announcement also meant that Sainz is currently without a seat for the 2025 season as Leclerc had signed a new contract extension just days before the news about Hamiton broke.
However, there have been some questions on whether Ferrari made the right choice given the start to the season for both drivers.
Lewis Hamilton will drive alongside Charles Leclerc
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Sainz currently sits behind his team-mate in the Drivers' Championship, but that's largely due to him skipping the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after being diagnosed with appendicitis.
The Spaniard has finished ahead of his team-mate in every other race so far heading into the Chinese Grand Prix this week.
However, Boutsen believes Leclerc is still the better choice going forward for Ferrari.
“[Sainz] has been driving very well, but the car has never been very good,” Boutsen told PlanetF1.
“If you see the performance of the two drivers, they’ve had ups and downs. Sometimes Leclerc is in front, sometimes it’s Sainz. Leclerc has an incredible speed in qualifying.
“When the car fits his personal speed, he’s done some magic races. When he got into Ferrari in his first year, winning at Spa and Monza, his driving was just unbelievable.
“I think he needs that type of car and to be in that type of environment to be able to win constantly.
“Sainz is in a different position, he’s never been dominating like Charles has done. When he was together with Vettel, he was dominating Vettel left and right.
“These two guys are in two very different situations, positions, and ambitions as well.
Carlos Sainz is looking for a seat next year
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“One has got the contract signed so he takes maybe a little bit of distance to think about the future and think about how to help the team, and prepare for the future, and Sainz is there to make as much as possible in the last races with Ferrari because he has no choice.
“So the pressure is different. The mentality of the two is different. I would personally keep Charles instead of Carlos if I had a choice.”
Sainz's performances for Ferrari have also raised questions as to whether they needed to make the move to bring in Hamilton, who will turn 40 before the start of next season.
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Lewis Hamilton signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari
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But Boutsen doesn't think Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur will regret choosing Hamilton over Sainz.
“I think every team would like to have Hamilton driving for them," he added.
“And, for Hamilton, it’s a very, very good opportunity to go to Ferrari – every driver in the world dreams to drive for Ferrari one day, and he does it, let’s say, towards the end of his career.
“If he waits one or two more years, the door will be closed for him. So it’s the right move at the right time for him.”
