Carlos Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021, partnering with Charles Leclerc. Despite his new role, the Spaniard maintains strong connections with his former McLaren teammates.
It was well-known during their time together that Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris got along well, and according to Sainz, Lando remains his best friend on the current grid.
Apart from my team, so obviously friends inside the team… Friend is a strong word that I don’t like using for anything or anyone. My best relationship in the paddock of all the drivers and engineers I would say still Lando [Norris] and some of my engineers that I’ve had – Tom Stallard, Ricky [Riccardo Adami], I have really good relationships with," he told F1.com.
Sainz Shares His F1 Idols
As he approaches his final Grands Prix with Ferrari, Sainz reflected on his love for the sport. Although his father is a two-time WRC champion, Sainz Jr. had his sights set on F1. The drivers he admired as a child all raced for Ferrari at some point in their careers.
"Watching Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen battle back in the 2000s. That golden era, I think, was incredible for F1. Just seeing them, they were my idols when I was 10 years old, when they were fighting for championships," said Sainz.
Before making a switch to Williams next season, Sainz has two tripleheaders left to complete with Ferrari. He has secured one victory in 2024, which he achieved in Melbourne, and currently sits fifth in the standings, 47 points behind Oscar Piastri, who is now supported by his race engineer friend, Stallard.
Sainz 's Australia GP win
Carlos Sainz achieved a remarkable victory at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix, marking his third career win in Formula 1. This triumph was particularly significant as it came just 16 days after he underwent surgery to remove his appendix, showcasing his resilience and determination.
Sainz's race began with him starting from second position behind polesitter Max Verstappen. The early laps saw Verstappen leading the pack; however, technical issues forced him to retire on lap 3, opening the door for Sainz. Taking advantage of DRS (Drag Reduction System), Sainz executed a brilliant overtaking maneuver on Verstappen between Turns 9 and 10, seizing the lead.
Once in front, Sainz demonstrated impressive pace and control, quickly building a lead over his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. By lap 10, he had established a three-second gap, which he maintained throughout the race. Despite some late-race pressure, Sainz crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin of 2.3 seconds ahead of Leclerc, securing a memorable one-two finish for Ferrari.
He expressed his desire to win at least one more race with Ferrari before his departure, making this win in Melbourne a fitting highlight of his time with the Scuderia.
