When Carlos Sainz Jnr signed to affix Ferrari for the 2021 season, he rightfully would have been dreaming of grand prix victories and even combating for world championships through the years to return.
Whereas he was capable of turn into a a number of grand prix winner with the Scuderia, Sainz by no means obtained the chance to compete for a title as former Toro Rosso staff mate Max Verstappen began a reign of dominance over the game. Now, Sainz will go away the staff on the finish of the season to maneuver to rather more humble environment at Williams.
In case you’re going to lose your seat to anybody, there’s maybe nobody higher than probably the most profitable driver in System 1 historical past. However though Sainz should quit his drive to Lewis Hamilton on the finish of the season, he’s in all probability been the higher driver of the 2 general over the primary 14 rounds of 2024.
If Sainz wished to make Ferrari remorse choosing Hamilton over him, he might hardly have began the season higher than he did. A gutsy drive in Bahrain noticed him begin the 12 months off with a podium after overtaking staff mate Charles Leclercand the Mercedes of George Russell to complete inside attain of Sergio Perez on the chequered flag. However after that robust opener, a sudden bout of appendicitis in Jeddah pressured him out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend and into a neighborhood hospital for emergency surgical procedure.
Arriving again within the paddock in Melbourne barely lighter than earlier than and decided to make up for a misplaced weekend, Sainz’s efficiency at Albert Park was arguably one of the best that any driver has put in thus far this season. He was the closest driver to Verstappen on Saturday, then took the lead from the Purple Bull driver earlier than his brake temperature issues actually turned important. From there on, he was untouchable, taking a commanding victory regardless of clearly not being at 100% bodily. His weekend in Suzuka was additionally robust, taking a 3rd podium in three races after once more overtaking Leclerc within the latter a part of the race.
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However after a scorching begin to the season, Sainz’s kind began to chill. For six consecutive rounds between China and Spain, Sainz was overwhelmed by Leclerc in each qualifying session and each grand prix. He was fortunate to achieve Q3 in China after spinning into the barrier on the remaining nook, however was allowed to proceed regardless of inflicting a purple flag. His Canadian Grand Prix weekend was simply his worst of the season, as he did not make the reduce for Q3 on Saturday earlier than spinning out of the race within the damp circumstances and taking out future staff mate Alexander Albon within the course of.
Carlos Sainz Jnr
| Finest | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| GP begin | 2 | 12 |
| GP end | 1 | 6 (x3) |
| Factors | 162 | |
However after an underwhelming run of races, Sainz picked up momentum after an easy run to sixth in his house grand prix at Barcelona. He returned to the rostrum in Austria with a strong efficiency over the weekend, then adopted that up with a robust British Grand Prix drive to fifth that went beneath the radar as a result of intense motion and drama forward of him.
He went into the summer time break in cheap kind, with Ferrari merely missing outright tempo in comparison with their rivals. Two sixth place finishes in Hungary and Belgium had been a good sufficient end result given the efficiency of the Ferrari earlier than the break, however he was outshone over each weekends by his staff mate.
Sainz’s scorching begin to the season was the right demonstration of all the pieces that made him such a sexy driver to a number of groups who courted him through the lengthy lead as much as his eventual signing for Williams. However earlier than Sainz can start the onerous work of serving to to convey his new staff again to the entrance of the sphere, he’ll need to make his remaining ten rounds as a Ferrari driver his greatest.
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