Carlos Sainz Jr. is having fun with an incredible run of type because the 2024 Method 1 season winds down. Sainz has secured six podiums this 12 months, 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 combo within the Constructor’s Championship, because the staff now trails second-place Purple Bull by simply eight factors, and first-place McLaren by 48
Nevertheless, this great run of success comes as his time at Ferrari is winding down. With Lewis Hamilton becoming a member of the staff for the 2025 marketing campaign, Sainz is headed to Williams for subsequent 12 months on a brand new “multi-year” deal.
It’s a “bittersweet” ending to his time in Maranello, a reality Sainz mirrored on in the course of the FIA Press Convention following qualifying in Mexico Metropolis.
“Given how good the automobile is, how nicely I’m driving not too long ago, you realize, it’s clearly optimistic going into the final 5 races,” mentioned Sainz in response to a query from Luke Smith at The Athletic. “On the identical time, bittersweet as a result of it offers me a sense Ferrari could be within the struggle for the World Championship subsequent 12 months and I cannot be there to make use of it.
“And I really feel like I’ve been fairly an enormous a part of this staff over the last 4 years attempting to organize the staff to struggle for that championship subsequent 12 months, you realize, and the truth that I’m driving nicely, being quick with the automobile and I’m residing in 5 races is certainly leaves me a bit… I don’t know methods to say it, however not with an excellent feeling,” added Sainz. “Nevertheless it’s what it’s. I’m going to attempt to, as I’ve mentioned, win extra races, stand on the rostrum for so long as I can throughout these 5 races and revel in that. After which we’ll take into consideration subsequent 12 months.”
Subsequent 12 months will come when it does, however first Sainz has a race to win, and one of many longest runs into Flip 1 on the Method 1 calendar. With Sainz beginning forward of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris — two drivers vying for the Drivers’ Championship — what’s going to Sainz be fascinated by because the lights exit?
Holding that lead, in accordance with the Ferrari driver.
“No, truthfully, the beginning I’ll simply do all the pieces I can to remain in P1 as a result of additionally round Mexico that’s actually necessary for the cooling of the automobile, for the tyres and all the pieces. So I’ll do all the pieces I can. However I say my focus is on the 0 to 100 and on the launch. Then all the pieces else occurring from then onwards… It relies upon, additionally, on how good my rivals begin and all of the instinctive selections that all of us take within the begin,” mentioned Sainz Saturday. “I’ll belief my instincts and clearly with the intention of getting out of that nook P1 for positive.”
We’ll see if Sainz can maintain that lead come Sunday afternoon, when the lights exit in Mexico Metropolis.
