Carlos Sainz: Ferrari driver’s move down the grid in 2025 ‘baffling’ after Mexico win, says Karun Chandhok | F1 News
Carlos Sainz’s very good weekend at the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix provided a reminder of his supreme expertise, but in addition the “baffling” actuality that the Spaniard is nearly sure to be lacking from the battle for victories subsequent season.
Sainz delivered a near-faultless exhibiting in Mexico to ease to pole place on Saturday, earlier than calmly overcoming being handed by Max Verstappen at the begin to take a cushty win in Sunday’s race.
The victory was his second of the season and the fourth of his profession, however the emotional celebrations that adopted advised it held further significance with it doubtlessly being his final for Ferrari.
Sainz has simply 4 extra races with the Scuderia earlier than being changed by Lewis Hamilton for 2025, a move that was confirmed in February earlier than the begin of the present season.
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Prolonged highlights from the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
The query of the place Sainz would go subsequent wasn’t answered till late July, when he determined to affix Williams after they emerged as shock contenders to signal him.
After a promising 2023 marketing campaign, Williams have did not make progress this yr, no less than in phrases of outcomes, as they sit eighth in the Constructors’ Championship with only a three-point lead over Alpine behind them.
In distinction, Sainz seems to be in the type of his life, and will have simply had back-to-back victories with a bit extra fortune, having produced a formidable exhibiting every week earlier in Austin to seal a Ferrari one-two behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
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Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz says successful the Mexico Metropolis GP was one in every of the finest emotions he is ever felt in the sport together with his household and buddies in attendance
Talking after Sainz took pole on Saturday, Sky Sports activities F1 pundit Karun Chandhok mentioned: “He’s been on top form, both in Austin and here. He was unlucky with the fuel leak, so he had to manage the race in Austin.
“It is nonetheless baffling that he isn’t going to be in a prime 4 seat subsequent yr.
“The guy is delivering at the absolute top level at this stage. It is baffling but a stunning job by him.”
‘A disgrace Sainz will not be at Purple Bull or Mercedes’
Sainz was closely linked with each Mercedes and Purple Bull earlier than ultimately signing for Williams, together with his choice suggesting that neither of the front-running squads finally made him a proposal.
Mercedes opted to exchange Hamilton with Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will drive alongside George Russell subsequent yr.
Purple Bull obtained themselves right into a tangle by providing Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez a mid-season contract extension that they’d now seem to remorse given the Mexican’s dismal kind.
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Fred Vasseur praises Carlos Sainz for his ‘excellent drive and excellent weekend’ for Ferrari after he claimed victory at the Mexico Metropolis GP
Whereas having a driver of Sainz’s high quality alongside Verstappen could be an unlimited improve, the understanding in the paddock is that the Dutchman’s camp wouldn’t have been eager on seeing the pair’s Toro Rosso partnership of virtually a decade in the past restored.
Chandhok added: “If you think of that equation of a midfield team, which is what Williams are at the moment, and the sort of driver they’ve managed to attract from a top team – it’s very rare.
“It is a huge coup. James Vowles and the staff have performed a superb job to get him there, however I nonetheless really feel it is somewhat little bit of a disgrace that we’re not going to see him in a Purple Bull or a Mercedes subsequent yr.”
Sainz opens up on ‘bittersweet’ Ferrari success
Ferrari’s back-to-back wins have seen the Italian squad surge again into rivalry for the Constructors’ Championship, with leaders McLaren simply 29 factors clear going into this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
With the sport’s laws not altering till after subsequent season, Ferrari’s robust late-season kind suggests they might have a 2025 automotive that may give Leclerc and Hamilton a possibility to contend for the drivers’ title.
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McLaren’s Zak Brown gatecrashed Ferrari’s staff photograph after Carlos Sainz’s win so Sainz determined to return the favour
Whereas Sainz is having fun with with the ability to exit on a excessive, the truth he’ll miss out on a possible championship shot shouldn’t be misplaced on the 30-year-old.
“(It’s) bittersweet because it gives me a feeling Ferrari might be in the fight for the world championship next year and I will not be there to use it,” Sainz mentioned in Mexico.
“And I feel like I’ve been quite a big part of this team during the last four years trying to prepare the team to fight for that championship next year, and the fact that I’m driving well, being fast with the car and I’m leaving, definitely leaves me a bit… I don’t know how to say it, but not with a very good feeling.”
Sainz admitted after the race that the dynamics of his scenario have been “challenging” and that the three-week break earlier than the ongoing Americas triple header helped him regain focus.
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Carlos Sainz joins Karun Chandhok at the SkyPad to analyse his pole lap for the Mexico Metropolis GP
“It’s been a strange year in that sense, and also quite a challenging one.
“I feel it may have been fairly simple for me to lose a little bit of motivation and to lose a little bit of the drive to make it occur, however these three weeks of break served me nicely.
“I managed to regain a bit of the determination and the drive that I needed for these last five, six races of the season.
“Not a simple yr however pleased with the manner that I’ve managed to maintain myself in it and clearly making an attempt to assist the staff now as a lot as I can to win the constructors’ title, as a result of it could be the excellent goodbye for me.”
‘People won’t forget’ – Hill says Sainz has ‘left his marker’
Former world champion Damon Hill believes that Sainz’s recent form will ensure a return to the front of the grid at some point, whether that’s with an improving Williams or another move further down the line.
“Carlos did a terrific job,” Sky Sports F1 pundit Hill said.
“There isn’t any query he is left his marker, and other people will not overlook that. It will be tough although when he is at a staff that is not as succesful.”
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Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz managed to beat Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and team-mate Charles Leclerc to take pole in Mexico Metropolis
Whereas Hill says Williams, the staff with whom he received his 1996 drivers’ title, shouldn’t be discounted, the Brit advised Sainz needs to be preserving his choices open for the future.
“I always thought that Carlos would be brilliant at Mercedes,” Hill added. “I think he’s just the sort of driver they need. But then they have their own plans, and that’s how it goes.
“Let’s not low cost Williams. They’re making progress nevertheless it’s a protracted street forward I feel for Carlos.
“I hope he’s got an option in his contract to jump if he needs to.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Sao Paulo GP schedule
Thursday October 31
4pm: Drivers’ Press Convention
Friday November 1
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Apply One (session begins at 2.30pm)
4.30pm: Crew Principals’ Press Convention
6pm: Sao Paulo GP Dash Qualifying (qualifying begins at 6.30pm*)
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Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Saturday November 2
1pm: Sao Paulo GP Dash build-up
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Dash
3.30pm: Ted’s Dash Pocket book
5pm: Sao Paulo Qualifying build-up
6pm: Sao Paulo GP Qualifying
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday November 3
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
7pm: Chequered Flag: Sao Paulo GP response
8pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Important Occasion
Method 1’s Americas triple header concludes this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with each session reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime