F1 legend drops 5-word reaction to Ferrari's tribute for Carlos Sainz on his last race with the team
Former F1 champion Damon Hill had an interesting five-word reaction to Ferrari's tribute post for Carlos Sainz. Hill, from his official Instagram account, shared a post on the departing Ferrari driver with the caption:
"Once a Ferrari driver... Always..."
Carlos Sainz departed from Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season. He raced his last, wearing the red overall and driving the Scarlet Ferrari. He spent four years with the team, driving alongside Charles Leclerc.
In his four seasons with the team, the Spaniard has won four races, held six pole positions, won 25 podiums, and claimed 900.5 points. He was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in the 2023 season after winning the Singapore Grand Prix.
Celebrating his achievements, Scuderia Ferrari shared a post from their official Instagram account, showcasing Sainz's accomplishments across the four seasons.
Hill shared the post on his Instagram.
Sainz began his F1 journey with Toro Rosso (currently RB) in 2015. He debuted alongside Max Verstappen and stayed with the team till 2016.
The 30-year-old then moved to Renault (currently Alpine) in 2017 and raced for the French team until 2018. In 2019, he moved to McLaren alongside Lando Norris and stayed with the Papayas for two more years before making his move to Ferrari in 2021.
Carlos Sainz is set to join Williams to race alongside Alex Albon. He will replace Franco Colapinto and race under the leadership of former Mercedes engineer James Vowles for the 2025 season and onwards.
Carlos Sainz shared his farewell message after Ferrari departure
Following his final race with Ferrari at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz shared his feelings on social media. The Spanish driver took to his official X account to congratulate McLaren, the new Constructors' Champions and wrote about cherishing his four years with the Prancing Horse.
"We gave everything, but today McLaren was just a bit faster overall," Sainz wrote. "Congrats to them! They deserve it! We should also be proud of what we’ve accomplished this year! I will always cherish these four seasons. GRAZIE DI CUORE Scuderia Ferrari!"
The Madrid-born driver finished his Ferrari career with a podium at the Yas Marina Circuit. He came home behind race winner Lando Norris and ahead of his teammate, Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton will replace him at Ferrari from the 2025 season onwards.
Carlos Sainz's final placement in the 2024 Drivers' Championship was P5 with 290 points and 66 points behind his teammate Leclerc. Max Verstappen claimed the season's Driver's Championship, while McLaren took the Constructors' Championship.