Two ex-Formula 1 racers have raised doubts about Ferrari's strategy to prioritize Charles Leclerc over Carlos Sainz for the 2025 season and beyond.
Sainz, aged 29, has been in discussions with both Mercedes and Red Bull, but he's notably closer to securing a substantial agreement with Sauber, now under Audi's ownership.
Despite Sainz's strong performance this season alongside Leclerc at Ferrari, there are growing concerns that Ferrari may have selected the less optimal driver to team up with Lewis Hamilton.
"He is undoubtedly beating Leclerc at the moment," stated Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion. "People are beginning to realise that he is a serious contender."
"He is mature and dedicated, intelligent, hard-working, which is making the difference. Talent alone is not enough," Villeneuve continued.
Villeneuve suggests there was internal disagreement within Ferrari about the decision to dismiss Sainz at the year's end to make room for 39-year-old seven-time world champion Hamilton.
"There are two sides at Ferrari," he explained. "One wanted Hamilton and the other wanted to keep Leclerc. So Sainz was the sacrificial lamb."
"Ironically, Sainz will probably come out with a better situation. You have to wonder if they're thinking 'What have we done?'" Villeneuve added.
Despite any doubts, Leclerc, aged 26, has already secured a multi-season contract extension with Ferrari earlier this year.
However, Robert Doornbos, a former Red Bull driver, expressed his skepticism about Leclerc's competitiveness on Ziggo Sport: "Leclerc is too nice to be world champion."
"He doesn't seem hard enough when I look at the mistakes he makes and how he is with the engineers. A Hamilton or a (Max) Verstappen next to him is not possible," said the Dutchman.
"If Ferrari produces the best car next year, then Hamilton will eat him up," Doornbos predicted.
