This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
Published on May 14, 2020, Carlos Sainz Jr is set to replace Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari in 2021, bringing with him a rich racing heritage.
As the son of Spain's two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz, who won a third Dakar Rally in January, Sainz Jr has racing in his blood. His uncle Antonio Sainz was also a rally driver.
Starting his career in karting, Sainz Jr won the Junior Monaco Kart Cup in 2009 before moving on to Formula 3 and eventually joining the Red Bull Junior Team in 2015.
‘I’ve given him some advice but the most important was “enjoy yourself”’, said 58-year-old Sainz Sr, world rally champion in 1990 and 1992 with Toyota.
Throughout his career, Sainz has competed for four different teams in five years – Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and now Ferrari – consistently bringing home useful points.
He made his Formula One debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso alongside Max Verstappen, before joining Renault in 2017 and then McLaren in 2019. Sainz has raced 102 Grands Prix, highlighted by a sixth-place finish in his first year at McLaren last season.
Delivering McLaren’s first podium in five years with third in Brazil last year, Sainz finished the 2019 championship with 96 points and in sixth place.
‘The big step forward was made last year, this year is more one of continuation’, said Sainz.
With his fluent Italian, perfected during his karting days, Sainz should have no problem settling in at Maranello. He lived with Italians for three years while at Toro Rosso, whose headquarters are in Faenza, like Ferrari also based in the Emilia Romagna region.
Sainz becomes the third Spaniard to drive for Ferrari, after former two-time world champion Fernando Alonso from 2010-2014 and Alfonso de Portago briefly in 1956-1957.
‘Carlos is doing great, and not only last year’, said compatriot Alonso, a friend and advisor to the young Sainz during his first steps in Formula One.
