Carlos Sainz’s survival plan in “ruthless” Formula 1

Even before the year began, Carlos Sainz was one of the main protagonists of the season. His departure from Ferrari due to Lewis Hamilton’s arrival put a lot of attention on the future of the Spaniard and despite the fact that he already began the campaign knowing that he had to find a destination for 2025, his resilience gave him two victories and allowed the Scuderia to take the fight for the constructors' championship until the last race.

“Adapt to survive” in F1

Saying goodbye to those from Maranello with a World Championship was the desired ending, but showing again what he is capable of was the best reward for the Madrid-born driver, in a year marked by his resilience: “We have been exposed to the pressure of F1 for ten years, four years exposed to that of Ferrari, which is another step, and here at the end either you adapt and are resilient or you don’t survive.

“You have to be mentally strong, because here in Formula 1, out of the 20 of us there is no one who is weak, we are all quite tough at that level,” adds Carlos, who made his first display of overcoming adversity during the Australian GP, where the Spaniard took his first victory of the season a week after having undergone surgery for appendicitis. But as demonstrated in DAZN’s new documentary, The Operator, these displays of hegemony also went further.

The victory in Mexico against Verstappen was another one of those weekends to remember for Sainz, who since all the moves at Ferrari happened was clear that they were a consequence of how the Big Circus works: “Every year in Formula 1 is a year to make a statement. In this sport they eat you up and you have to be constantly making statements if you want to stay in the race and maintain your status and position.”

Norris: “Sainz has already shown enough in F1”

One blow after another. That was what Carlos took care of at the wheel of the Ferrari during a season that has been showered with praise. “He has already shown enough in F1. He deserves to fight for championships, for victories… It is a shame when that opportunity is lost, but it is not because he does not have talent or ability, but because the biggest name in Formula 1 has wanted his seat,” Lando Norris stressed.

Marc Gené, one of Ferrari’s strong men, also spoke about Sainz’s work ethic: “It is a real luxury to work with him, technically he is very good. In situations with water, a wet track, changeable conditions, he is extremely good. He is extremely complete and justice has not always been done to him. He is a great driver, a potential world champion.”

After four years working at Maranello, Ferrari team manager Fred Vasseur is happy to say that despite having overcome “complicated moments” between Carlos and Leclerc. “There was never any clashes,” he says. “It was healthy competition and the best thing for us. Because we have achieved good results for the team from that competitiveness.”

But now, Sainz has to write a new chapter at Williams, which his new team boss James Vowles is celebrating: “What I like most about Carlos is that we have the same culture. First of all, he’s a work machine. Those are his words, not mine, but I already knew that. And I’m the same way, I don’t like leaving anything half-done.”