Hours after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz was struggling to carry again the tears. A monitor was wheeled out into the paddock to show a farewell video Ferrari had produced as a send-off after the Spaniard’s 4 years at Maranello.
All crew members had been sporting a particular cap that Ferrari had produced for the event, with Sainz sporting his backwards so the embroidered “Grazie Carlos” message on the again was higher seen.
Sainz’s faultless second place behind Lando Norris was not fairly sufficient to assist Ferrari snatch the world title away from McLaren, but it surely signified the top of a four-year interval wherein the 30-year-old left no stone unturned to assist his dream crew return to the entrance of Method 1.
It was additionally the emotional apotheosis of what has been a difficult yr for Sainz, studying on the eve of the season that his fourth marketing campaign in Maranello can be his final, with the Madrid native the unlucky sufferer of Ferrari’s profitable efforts to pry Lewis Hamilton free from Mercedes.
Shedding your seat in F1 is rarely simple, however Sainz had each proper to be deflated after he had already confirmed doubters incorrect as soon as earlier than. When his 2021 transfer to Ferrari was revealed, few observers imagined he can be something greater than a stable second driver to Ferrari’s golden little one Charles Leclerc, arguably F1’s quickest qualifier.
However whereas Leclerc certainly had the measure of Sainz over one lap, the Spaniard’s expertise, dedication and work ethic ensured he managed not solely to maintain up with Leclerc as they traded spells of getting the higher hand on one another, however he additionally performed an instrumental position in serving to Ferrari flip its type round below crew boss Fred Vasseur.
Certainly, some fiery radio messages apart as they fought over the identical turf at occasions, Sainz and Leclerc saved their relationship intact in what has been a complementary alliance, with Leclerc commissioning a tribute helmet to his team-mate for final weekend. It’s clear that Ferrari would have been very happy to proceed with the pairing had the distinctive alternative to signal Hamilton not offered itself, however with no different top-line seats changing into obtainable, that did not make Sainz’s impending transfer away from a race-winning automobile any simpler to take.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
Photograph by: Ferrari
Sainz bows out with 4 race wins for Ferrari, two coming this season as he recovered from appendicitis to win in Melbourne, and one other in Mexico. “Life is such a rollercoaster,” Sainz instructed F1’s Past the Grid podcast. “I bear in mind being very emotional on that Australian GP podium as a result of there was my dad there, my supervisor, my girlfriend. I used to be clearly serious about my mother, they usually’ve all seen me endure throughout the winter. And once I say endure, I do not imply I used to be crying behind closed doorways, however I used to be really damage.
“I used to be damage as a result of I did not anticipate it. I wasn’t ready for that form of information. I used to be a bit in shock for some time, after which I regrouped and obtained coaching once more. However I bear in mind after that win in Australia, serious about how fortunate I’m of the those that I’ve round me, giving me that interior energy to beat what it was on the time, a tricky second.”
Sainz admitted to being offended on the information of his substitute, however over time he has come to simply accept Ferrari’s resolution to go after Hamilton at his expense. “I might sit right here and say no, however on the time after they provide you with this information, you are offended. You do not perceive it. You curse. You assume every thing in your life is horrible and you do not perceive. However time cures every thing.
“You perceive Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, and among the finest if not one of the best in historical past, goes to exchange you at Ferrari, and you could be one of many two drivers sacrificed for that to occur. I additionally perceive it was by no means going to be Charles. Charles has been the challenge of Ferrari ever since he is been a junior driver.
“So, I understood I needed to be the one being changed from the start. I simply clearly did not agree a lot on the time. However hey, you find yourself agreeing and you find yourself getting on with it. I instructed [Vasseur and CEO John Elkann] what I believed and moved on and promised them that I used to be going to present my very best for Ferrari.”
It could have been simpler to maneuver on if different profitable seats had develop into obtainable, however McLaren’s line-up is settled and neither Crimson Bull nor Mercedes determined to make a transfer for him. As a substitute, Sainz opted to signal for Williams over the summer season within the information that combating for race wins would now not be on his rapid horizon because the British crew faces a large-scale rebuild. Following a personal filming day Sainz, wearing all-white overalls, made his official Williams debut on Tuesday’s Abu Dhabi tyre check.
“I do not assume I match into the Crimson Bull state of affairs,” he mentioned. “That they had me obtainable for six months, they usually did not decide me. And I feel it is as a result of I merely do not match into the kind of driver that they want. I am utterly positive with that, so I do not see it like a misplaced alternative to not wait until December. With James, I can not clarify to you the way a lot I felt needed they usually did an unbelievable job convincing me.”
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photograph by: Ferrari
Sainz’s closing Ferrari F1 win got here in October, the place he dominated the Mexican Grand Prix from pole. Because the races as a Ferrari driver saved ticking away, he was conscious about Mexico probably being his final win. Subsequently, Ferrari’s upswing in type was tinged with melancholy as he realised he was leaving a crew that he had helped develop into able to competing for championships.
“It’s bittersweet as a result of it offers me a sense Ferrari is likely to be within the battle for the world championship subsequent yr and I cannot be there to make use of it,” he mentioned on the time. “I feel it might have been fairly simple for me to lose a little bit of motivation and to lose a little bit of the drive to make it occur. I am pleased with the way in which that I’ve managed to maintain myself in it and clearly attempting to assist the crew now as a lot as I can to win this constructors’ How Carlos Sainz confirmed his class throughout powerful Ferrari farewell tour as a result of it could be the proper goodbye.
Ferrari in the end got here up 14 factors quick to knock McLaren off its perch, however Sainz nonetheless gave the send-off he deserved. For his driving and technical skills and his position in Ferrari’s resurgence. But in addition for the exemplary means he has carried himself over the previous 10 months.
“It was emotional on the in-lap with my engineer speaking to me on the radio,’ he mirrored. “On the identical time, I am very grateful to be a part of this superb crew for 4 years. I’ve had the chance to win my first races, my first pole positions, my first podiums.
“I’ve confirmed to myself and to everybody that I will be combating for race wins and for podiums if I’ve the appropriate automobile.”
F1’s clean operator has confirmed he’s an aesthetic operator, too.
On this article
Filip Cleeren
Method 1
Carlos Sainz
Ferrari
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