Peter Windsor stunned by contrasting mindsets of Carlos Sainz and “defeated” Lewis Hamilton in Lusail. Peter Windsor puzzled by Carlos Sainz's fire compared to Hamilton's struggles at Qatar GP.

Carlos Sainz has every reason to feel aggrieved by Ferrari’s decision not to renew his contract. Even with a driver as legendary as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton available, Carlos Sainz believed he had earned the right to stay with the team.

This season has only reinforced that belief. Ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz sits two places and 51 points ahead of Hamilton in the championship standings.

While much of this can be attributed to Ferrari’s edge over Mercedes this year, the more telling comparison lies in their performances relative to their teammates. Hamilton trails George Russell by nine points and has only outperformed him in 11 Grands Prix this season. In contrast, Carlos Sainz has defeated Charles Leclerc in 15 Grands Prix and could close the season within three of his teammate in both qualifying and race-day head-to-heads (currently 13-8 and 12-7).

Carlos Sainz has delivered yet another impressive campaign, but now faces the prospect of moving from Ferrari to Williams, a team battling at the lower end of the grid. Adding to his frustration, he’s had to watch Hamilton endure one of the toughest seasons of his career.

Peter Windsor puzzled by Carlos Sainz’s fire compared to Lewis Hamilton’s struggles at Qatar GP
Carlos Sainz’s determination was on full display during Sprint qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, where he clocked the fourth-fastest lap, narrowly edging out Charles Leclerc. In contrast, Hamilton struggled, finishing four-tenths slower than George Russell and qualifying seventh, while his teammate secured a spot on the front row alongside Lando Norris.

Reflecting on this disparity, Peter Windsor noted on his YouTube channel that Hamilton’s performance suggests he may have “mentally signed off.” Peter Windsor expressed confusion as to why the 39-year-old seems to lack drive, especially with a move to another top team on the horizon. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz continues to fight relentlessly, despite knowing that next season will likely see him out of podium contention and competing for scraps in the midfield. He has outqualified Charles Leclerc recently and even claimed victory in Mexico City just last month, proving his unwavering determination.

“Maybe it’s Lewis kind of signed off mentally,” the former Ferrari general manager said. “But it’s interesting to compare [him to] Carlos Sainz, who in theory should be signing off mentally – Ferrari have basically sacked him after a very good year with the Scuderia, and he’s driving for Williams next year, which is not the same as going to another frontrunning team in the way Lewis is. And yet it’s interesting the way Carlos has approached these last three races, outqualifying his teammate, winning races, looking really good. Whereas Lewis Hamilton on the other side of the defence looks quite defeated at the moment.” – Peter Windsor added.

What Lewis Hamilton’s ‘darkest fears’ might be telling him as Mercedes chapter ends
Carlos Sainz, despite his imminent move to Williams, harbors hopes of one day returning to Ferrari. His new contract with the struggling team is long-term, but it includes an option to leave at the end of 2026, potentially aligning with future opportunities at Maranello.

This timing coincides intriguingly with the structure of Hamilton’s Ferrari deal, which is initially set for two years with a mutual option for a third. Whether that third season materializes could hinge on Hamilton’s ability to dispel doubts about his current form and resilience.

According to BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson, the seven-time Formula1 world champion might be grappling with some of his ‘darkest fears’ as he prepares to leave Mercedes. He’s likely questioning whether his recent struggles stem from his own performance or the limitations of the car.

A particularly puzzling element has been Hamilton’s complaints about rear instability, a trait he once famously mastered during his career. Historically renowned for his skill in handling oversteer, it raises questions about whether the unique demands of this generation of Formula 1 cars have muted some of the talents that set him apart as a legend of the sport.