Carlos Sainz Jr. is having fun with an amazing run of kind because the 2024 Components 1 season winds down. Sainz has secured six podiums this yr, together with a win within the Australian Grand Prix, and has an opportunity to observe his P2 in final week’s United States Grand Prix with one other podium outcome having certified in pole place for Sunday’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix. That success has helped Ferrari climb again into the combination within the Constructor’s Championship, because the workforce now trails second-place Crimson Bull by simply eight factors, and first-place McLaren by 48
Nonetheless, this super run of success comes as his time at Ferrari is winding down. With Lewis Hamilton becoming a member of the workforce for the 2025 marketing campaign, Sainz is headed to Williams for subsequent yr on a brand new “multi-year” deal.
It’s a “bittersweet” ending to his time in Maranello, a truth Sainz mirrored on throughout the FIA Press Convention following qualifying in Mexico Metropolis.
“Given how good the automotive is, how effectively I’m driving just lately, you understand, it’s clearly optimistic going into the final 5 races,” stated Sainz in response to a query from Luke Smith at The Athletic. “On the similar time, bittersweet as a result of it offers me a sense Ferrari may be within the battle for the World Championship subsequent yr and I cannot be there to make use of it.
“And I really feel like I’ve been fairly a giant a part of this workforce over the past 4 years attempting to arrange the workforce to battle for that championship subsequent yr, you understand, and the truth that I’m driving effectively, being quick with the automotive and I’m residing in 5 races is certainly leaves me a bit… I don’t know tips on how to say it, however not with an excellent feeling,” added Sainz. “But it surely’s what it’s. I’m going to attempt to, as I’ve stated, win extra races, stand on the rostrum for so long as I can throughout these 5 races and revel in that. After which we are going to take into consideration subsequent yr.”
Subsequent yr will come when it does, however first Sainz has a race to win, and one of many longest runs into Flip 1 on the Components 1 calendar. With Sainz beginning forward of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris — two drivers vying for the Drivers’ Championship — what is going to Sainz be enthusiastic about because the lights exit?
Holding that lead, based on the Ferrari driver.
“No, actually, the beginning I’ll simply do all the things I can to remain in P1 as a result of additionally round Mexico that’s actually essential for the cooling of the automotive, for the tyres and all the things. So I’ll do all the things I can. However I say my focus is on the 0 to 100 and on the launch. Then all the things else taking place from then onwards… It relies upon, additionally, on how good my rivals begin and all of the instinctive choices that all of us take within the begin,” stated Sainz Saturday. “I’ll belief my instincts and clearly with the intention of getting out of that nook P1 for positive.”
We are going to see if Sainz can maintain that lead come Sunday afternoon, when the lights exit in Mexico Metropolis.
