Carlos Sainz, Ferrari’s 30-year-old Spanish driver, remains consistent and intelligent on the track in a season marked by tight battles between the top teams. His level in 2024 is solid, with a notable improvement on 2023. His consistency and composure have earned him five podiums and a key victory at the Australian Grand Prix. He thus consolidates his position among the leading drivers.
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Sainz focuses on maximizing the results of his single-seater. He distinguishes himself not by flashes of brilliance, but by a methodical approach that enables him to maximize every opportunity. He seizes critical moments, capitalizing on others’ mistakes and unpredictable conditions. Far from being in the shadow of his rivals, Sainz is establishing himself as a pillar of Scuderia Ferrari.
Credits : Scuderia Ferrari HP – Australian Grand Prix, Sunday
Karting and single-seater debut
Carlos Sainz Jr. is a Spanish racing driver, born in Madrid on September 1, 1994. The son of two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz, he followed in his father’s footsteps in motorsport. The young driver began his career in karting in 2006. 2008 was the year when Sainz won the Asia-Pacific KF3 championship and finished second in the Spanish championship. In 2009, it was the Monaco Junior Kart Cup he won and finished on the podium of the European KF3 championship.
In 2010, as part of the Red Bull Racing network, Sainz took part in the Formula BMW European Championship with the EuroInternational team. The following year, he became Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup champion.
In 2012, he had a more challenging season in British Formula 3, finishing sixth. He took part in several tests with Red Bull Racing to obtain his Formula 1 super license in 2013. Then, The Spaniard became Formula Renault 3.5 Series world champion, beating Pierre Gasly during 2014.
The Toro Rosso scuderia
Before making his Formula 1 debut, Carlos Sainz chose the number 55 to create a graphic pun “Carlo55ainz” in leet speak. He began his career in 2015 with Scuderia Toro Rosso. Alongside Max Verstappen, he formed the youngest team in F1 history. For his first Grand Prix in Melbourne, he qualified eighth and finished ninth in the race, scoring his first points.
In Malaysia, he finished eighth, but the rest of the season was marked by the poor reliability of his single-seater, the STR10, which forced him to retire seven times, four of them in succession. Despite a difficult season, his best performance came at the U.S. Grand Prix, where he finished seventh after starting from the pit lane. He finished the season in fifteenth place with 18 points.
In 2016, Toro Rosso swapped its Renault engine for a Ferrari block from the previous year. Sainz scored 32 points in the first half of the season. On fast circuits like Spa, Monza, and Suzuka, Toro Rosso struggled, but Sainz managed to score points. He finished sixth in the U.S. and Brazilian Grands Prix, ending the season with 46 points and twelfth place in the championship.
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A season with Renault…
Carlos Sainz scored points in numerous races in 2017, despite six retirements. He was involved in incidents in Bahrain, Canada, and Great Britain due to collisions, as well as an off-track accident in Japan. He also retired in Austria and Malaysia due to engine problems.
His best performance came in Singapore, where he finished fourth in a chaotic race in which both Ferraris retired. On September 15, although he was still under contract with Toro Rosso, Renault signed him to replace Jolyon Palmer from 2018. On October 7, Renault announced that Sainz would make his debut with the team at the U.S. Grand Prix.
His last three races with Renault were complicated. Carlos Sainz retired in Mexico due to a steering problem and in Abu Dhabi due to a loose wheel. He finished the season ninth in the championship with 54 points.
In 2018, Sainz got off to a good start, scoring points at the inaugural Grand Prix, where he finished tenth, followed by six consecutive points-scoring races. The Spanish driver retired in Great Britain after a tangle with Romain Grosjean, finished out of the points in Bahrain and Austria, and received a ten-second penalty in Germany for overtaking Marcus Ericsson under the safety car, finishing twelfth.
On August 3, Renault announced that Daniel Ricciardo would replace Sainz from 2019.
…Then two at McLaren
On August 16, McLaren announced that Carlos Sainz Jr. would replace Fernando Alonso for the 2019 season. He ranked tenth in the championship with 53 points. In Melbourne and Bahrain, he retired due to engine failure and a gearbox problem. In China, after qualifying at the back of the grid, he tangled with Daniil Kvyat on the first lap and finished fourteenth.
During the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Sainz finished seventh. At his home Grand Prix, he took advantage of a Daniel Ricciardo penalty to start twelfth and finish eighth. In Monaco, he started ninth and finished sixth. During the Canada Grand Prix, he was penalized three places for impeding Alexander Albon and finished eleventh. In France and Austria, the soon-to-be Williams driver finished sixth and eighth, respectively.
On July 9, McLaren confirmed Sainz and his teammate Lando Norris for the 2020 season. In Great Britain, he finished sixth.
During the German Grand Prix, he qualified seventh and finished fifth. In Hungary, Sainz started eighth and also finished fifth. The driver retired in Belgium due to a loss of power, and in Italy, due to a loose wheel. In Singapore, he started seventh and finished twelfth. Sainz finished sixth in Russia, fifth in Japan, and thirteenth in Mexico. In the United States, he finished eighth.
In Brazil, after suffering a loss of power in qualifying, he started last. However, Carlos Sainz crossed the chequered flag in fourth position, but was promoted to third due to a penalty for Lewis Hamilton.
His arrival at Ferrari
On May 12, 2020, the announcement that negotiations between Sebastian Vettel and Scuderia Ferrari had broken down caused an upheaval in the transfer market. Vettel left Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season, which had not yet begun due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On May 14, Daniel Ricciardo was announced as joining McLaren in 2021, freeing up Carlos Sainz’s place, who would join Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz said, “I’m very happy to be racing for Scuderia Ferrari from 2021 and I’m very excited about my future with this team.” He added that he still had an important year with McLaren and was looking forward to the season. Ferrari director Mattia Binotto spoke of a new cycle for the team, pointing out that Sainz and Leclerc, Ferrari’s youngest driver pairing in fifty years, formed the best combination to achieve the goals set.
Credits : Scuderia Ferrari HP – Spanish Grand Prix 2024
In the first four races of the 2021 season, Sainz finished fifth at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. On May 23, in Monaco, with teammate Leclerc unable to start from pole position, Sainz finished second behind Max Verstappen, achieving his first podium of the season and Ferrari’s first of 2021.
He finished on the podium again in Hungary after Sebastian Vettel’s disqualification, then in Russia and Abu Dhabi, taking his total to four podiums.
Two victories in two years
Carlos Sainz got the 2022 season off to a flying start with two podium finishes. He finished second at the Bahrain Grand Prix, contributing to a one-two finish for Ferrari, with his teammate in first place. This marked his third consecutive podium finish and his seventeenth in the points.
On April 21, 2022, just before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Sainz extended his contract with Ferrari until the end of the 2024 season. In 2023, at the Singapore Grand Prix, he scored his second Formula 1 victory, breaking Red Bull’s winning streak, and ended the season with 200 points.
At Silverstone, for the British Grand Prix, Sainz achieved the first pole position of his career on a rain-soaked track, ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc. The following day, he claimed his first Formula 1 victory. In Belgium, with the second-fastest qualifying time, he took advantage of Verstappen’s penalty to secure his second pole position.
The history of Ferrari
The Ferrari team, already featured in Charles Leclerc’s biography, had a rich history in Formula 1. Founded in 1929, it raced for the first time in 1950. Ferrari dominated the 1960s with legendary drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Phil Hill. The 1970s saw iconic victories with Niki Lauda.
The partnership with Marlboro left its mark on the team in the 1980s and 1990s. Drivers like Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher contributed to Ferrari’s reputation. Schumacher won five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004, solidifying the team’s legacy.
Ferrari also experienced iconic rivalries, notably with McLaren and Red Bull. Each confrontation shaped the history of Formula 1 and continued to shape it in the 2024 season, with a fierce rivalry. The team’s podiums and victories remain etched in fans’ memories.
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Key races
Ferrari has been involved in a number of controversial incidents over the years. The 1994 Australian Grand Prix was marked by a tragic accident that claimed the life of Ayrton Senna, affecting the team’s image.
Another key moment was the end of the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008, when a dubious strategy enabled Fernando Alonso to win amidst chaos. In 2019, the Canadian Grand Prix was controversial due to a penalty handed down to Sebastian Vettel, provoking debate among fans and pundits alike.
These incidents not only marked the careers of the drivers, but also had an impact on Ferrari’s image as a team.
A consistent, calculating driver
Carlos Sainz is known for his calculating driving style. On the track, he prioritizes tire management and optimizes the performance of his single-seater. His approach is less aggressive than that of some drivers, notably team-mate Charles Leclerc. The Spaniard knows how to take advantage of his rivals’ mistakes. Sainz often remains calm in tense situations, enabling him to avoid accidents and maximize his results.
His strengths include great consistency. He regularly scores points, even in difficult races. Sainz is also competent in the rain, where he shows excellent control. His race strategy is an asset, as he knows how to manage critical moments and adapt his driving to the circumstances.
However, the Spanish driver is not always the fastest in qualifying, which limits his opportunities in the race. What’s more, he can feel the pressure at decisive moments, which can affect his performance.
A friendly man off the track
Carlos Sainz enjoys good relations with his team-mates, especially Lando Norris at McLaren, which has resulted in a strong friendship nicknamed “Carlando”. Their dynamic is marked by healthy competition and mutual support, creating a positive atmosphere within the team.
At Ferrari, Sainz has also developed a close relationship with Charles Leclerc. The two drivers share a mutual respect and work closely together to maximize the team’s performance. Their relationship is based on open communication, enabling them to exchange technical information and improve their cars together. This camaraderie is reflected in their interactions on and off the track, where they support each other in their quest for success.
Off the track, Sainz has many interests. He is passionate about sport, particularly soccer and cycling. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Sainz is active on social networks, where he shares moments from his daily life, his activities outside racing and his thoughts on the sport. The Spaniard uses his platform to interact with his fans and give an insight into his personality.
In terms of public image, Sainz is perceived as approachable and friendly. He regularly interacts with fans, whether on social networks or at events. His personality is characterized by humility and determination. He’s always respectful.
Credits : Scuderia Ferrari HP – Spanish Grand Prix 2024
A future with Williams
Carlos Sainz is going through a 2024 season marked by ups and downs. Following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, Sainz announced that he would be leaving the team at the end of the year. He started the season on a high note with a third-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix. However, appendicitis forced him to withdraw from the Saudi Grand Prix, where he was replaced by Oliver Bearman.
Despite this setback, Sainz bounced back with an impressive victory in Melbourne, demonstrating his resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
As for his future, Sainz has been made official by Williams on a two-year contract starting in 2025. His relationship with Ferrari and his team-mates, notably Charles Leclerc, has been constructive, but it seems that page is turning.
As he prepares for his new adventure at Williams, Sainz is determined to continue to showcase his talent and make his mark in a new environment. Fans will miss his team with Charles Leclerc…
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