Sainz explains why it was 'very difficult to say no to' Ferrari F1 drive

Carlos Sainz insists it would have been “very difficult to say no to” Ferrari despite its difficult 2020 Formula 1 campaign. 

The Scuderia moved to sign the Spaniard from McLaren to replace four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel in its line-up for 2021 back in May last year, prior to the 2020 season getting underway. 

While Sainz played a vital role in helping McLaren to clinch third place in the constructors’ championship, Ferrari endured woeful performance and slumped to its worst result in F1 since 1980, finishing a lowly sixth in the teams’ standings. 

Speaking to select media including Crash.net about what convinced him to leave an improving McLaren team for Ferrari, Sainz said: "First of all, you are driving for Ferrari - I don’t think there is much more to say. 

"Becoming a Ferrari driver is in every driver's mind and every driver's dreams. Independently of the situation, it's very, very difficult to say no to that.

"At that point, I was pretty convinced that as an Italian team...I'd always felt comfortable with Toro Rosso, and I always felt like Ferrari could be a good place for me.

"I know Italian, I know some people there, and I felt like I could have a successful time there immediately.

"Apart from that, I think sentimentally, driving for the most successful team in the history of the sport is always the dream of any Formula 1 driver.”

Sainz has repeatedly rejected suggestions he might regret his switch to Ferrari given that teams are carrying over their 2020 chassis into the upcoming campaign, and the 26-year-old is convinced the Maranello outfit is heading in the right direction despite its difficult season. 

"I've had positive conversations with people there, and I see people in good spirits, ready to fight on a good comeback,” he explained. 

"Everyone there is pushing flat out, and you can see clearly in the progression Ferrari has had this year after such a difficult start.

"They've clearly developed the car and they are in a much better place now than they were six, seven months ago.

"Hopefully we can do the next step together and I can help them also to keep finding a way, and keep finding performance with the car.

"But I wouldn't move to a team if I didn't have a good feeling about it, that's for sure."