Merhi: 'Next year it's Hamilton against Verstappen and Leclerc against Sainz'

Carlos Sainz will drive for Ferrari from 2021 next to Charles Leclerc now Sebastian Vettel has announced that he will no longer be in front of the Italian race stable after this season. With Sainz Ferrari gets a good replacement that is fast, young and cheap. On top of that Ferrari would again have two number one drivers, although deliberately.

Very fast

"Ferrari is looking for two number one drivers who get along well," says Roberto Merhi at Marca.com, "these are Leclerc and Carlos Sainz." Moreover, Sainz has a lot of experience because he has been active in Formula 1 for some years. "When that coincided I realized that Carlos Sainz is a very fast driver. When he has a car that allows him to win, he normally does so".

Sainz has grown over the years to be a person on top of his team, so he didn't stagnate as the years progressed. Merhi thinks this is thanks to Sainz senior: "I think his father helped him a lot. The Sainz's are very hardworking and I can see why Sainz junior is hungry to win".

Same level

With Sainz in a competitive car Max Verstappen will undoubtedly encounter his former teammate again a lot on the track. Merhi expects that Sainz will be able to compete directly at the top, he says: "I am sure he will be on the same level as Leclerc from the first Grand Prix. None of his colleagues have been able to beat him and if he can beat Verstappen then Leclerc won't be a problem".

In any case, the 2021 season looks interesting: "It will be Hamilton against Verstappen and Leclerc against Sainz," Merhi concludes.