Carlos Sainz revealed he was "hurt" after finding out that he would be replaced for the 2025 season at Ferrari by seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton. 

Sainz was preparing for his fourth season with the Scuderia when the news broke that Hamilton would be ending his 12-year stint with Mercedes to join the Italian team. 

The Spaniard had to balance his on-track efforts and discussions with rival teams to secure a new seat, eventually announcing he would join Williams earlier this year. 

Sainz enjoyed his most successful campaign with Ferrari this season, scoring 290 points, which included race wins in Australia and Mexico, finishing fifth in the drivers' standings.

He ended his time with the Scuderia having triumphed in four races, claiming six pole positions and collecting 25 podium finishes. 

But speaking in an appearance on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Sainz revealed how Ferrari’s decision to replace him meant he suffered over the winter, but feels the process ultimately made him a much better driver.

"I think at the beginning of the year, I was tested more than I’ve ever been tested before and life put me in a situation that was not comfortable at all," Sainz commented.

"I was told that I was not going to continue with the team and that I was 99% sure I was going to continue with it going into that winter.

"It was a massive shock to my hopes and I obviously didn’t enjoy that moment.

"I still trained, and I still prepared for that season, targeting to be ready to win races, to win a championship if the opportunity presented itself. 

"I went into that year still full of energy, but obviously with this uncomfortable situation and an uncomfortable moment."

One last Scuderia Ferrari radio message #AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Q8jzDm537l

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 11, 2024

"I remember being very emotional on that Australian Grand Prix podium because there was my dad there, there was obviously my manager, my girlfriend, everyone who was next to me. I was obviously thinking about my mum," he continued. 

"They’ve all seen me suffer during the winter. When I say suffer, I don’t mean I was crying behind closed doors, but I was actually hurt. I was hurt because I didn’t expect it. I wasn’t prepared for that kind of news. I was a bit in shock for a while."

Sainz's first outing with new team Williams saw him top the timesheets at post-season testing in Abu Dhabi last week, ahead of former team-mate, Charles Leclerc. 

The Spaniard will link up with Alex Albon next year, who managed just 12 points in the 2024 season, with his highest finish coming in Azerbaijan when he finished seventh. 

Many questioned Sainz's decision to join Williams on a two-year deal, but he did not refuse to rule out returning to Ferrari should the stars align in the future. 

"Yeah, why not? I don’t see why not," Sainz said. "At the same time, I cannot see it happening anytime soon. But life is long. I’m 30.

"You see drivers at 42 in F1, so if I’m in F1 for as long as that, who tells you that in these next 10 years, Ferrari might need my services again in the future?

"This doesn’t mean I wish for it to happen, or I’m looking forward to it or anything like that – I have a very big target in my head now, which is helping Williams to bring them back to the front of the field – but I don’t think about it too much."