19/08/2025 10:10
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has highlighted Williams' Carlos
Sainz as a possible replacement for Lewis Hamilton, should the
Ferrari driver depart before the end of his contract. The
seven-time world champion took Sainz's seat at the Scuderia,
forcing the Spaniard to depart. Hamilton is contracted until at
least the end of 2026, but has an option for a further campaign.
However, Hamilton has endured a poor start to his stint with
Ferrari, due to struggling to adjust to the SF-25. The rear
instability of Ferrari's current car has caused the 40-year-old
major issues, to the extent that he described himself as "useless"
after being eliminated in Q2 in Hungary. Following that comment,
he cryptically stated that there are things happening "behind the
scenes" at the Maranello-based outfit, triggering much intrigue in
the paddock. Herbert is unsure what Hamilton meant by the comment,
but wonders if it is a sign of there already being talks about
parting ways. "When Hamilton said [things are going on behind the
scenes], I'm not sure what that meant," Herbert told a gambling
platform. "One way of reading it is that there has been talk
already about changing the driver. Is that something that's already
been spoken about? "Maybe it's been mentioned if things don't get
better, you need to get yourself in a position where you've got the
next driver ready for next year. "Maybe they [Hamilton and Ferrari]
are both saying that if it doesn't work, the time is here, the time
has come [to part ways]." Sainz open to Ferrari return Should
Hamilton remarkably depart Ferrari at the end of the campaign, Max
Verstappen would not be his replacement having committed to Red
Bull for next year. However, Herbert does believe it could be
Sainz, who recently outlined that he would be open to a move back
to the Italian squad. "I don't think it would be Verstappen [chosen
to replace Hamilton]. It could be one of the younger drivers, I
guess," pondered Herbert. "But I saw a little interview with Carlos
Sainz and when asked if he would go back to Ferrari, he replied:
'Yeah, maybe!' "Carlos was doing an absolutely brilliant job and
was really keeping Charles under control. He's still young. He's
still doing a good job, even if he's struggling with Williams a
bit. But we know how good he was when he was at Ferrari."
