Carlos Sainz hits career peak with Ferrari: A Formula 1 resurgence
- Rob Fleming
- 29 September 2023
In the high-octane world of Formula 1, where milliseconds can mean the difference between glory and defeat, Carlos Sainz has been silently building his legacy since joining the Ferrari team in 2021.
As he gears up for the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, Sainz's recent performance paints a picture of a driver operating at the pinnacle of his abilities.
Now into his third season with Scuderia Ferrari, Sainz has amassing 15 podium finishes out of his 17 career appearances. His breakthrough moment came at the 2022 British Grand Prix when he clinched his maiden Formula 1 victory, and the Spanish sensation didn't stop there, securing another podium in Singapore that halted Max Verstappen's dominant 2023 winning streak.
The post-summer break races have witnessed Sainz outclassing his talented teammate, Charles Leclerc, on multiple occasions, showcasing his unrelenting drive to excel.
Although he did concede to Leclerc in Japan, it was elsewhere that Sainz truly shone. At both Monza and Marina Bay, he displayed blistering pace, grabbing pole position for both events. The Italian Grand Prix saw him snatch third place, while he cruised to victory in Singapore, making it a season to remember for Sainz.
Sainz's journey with Ferrari has been marked by moments of brilliance overshadowed by Leclerc's formidable performances, with the Monegasque driver notching three wins and 13 pole positions. However, recent events suggest a shift in the balance of power within the Scuderia team.
In a candid statement to media, Sainz revealed, "I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling very well with the car and I'm driving very well, probably the best since I've been a Ferrari driver and finally I'm extracting my full potential. And I'm happy to see that.
"I'm happy, too, with the work that I'm doing with my engineers to little by little keep extracting more and more potential and more performance out of the car. It's obviously going to give me a lot of confidence moving forward. We need to keep working on the race pace.
"In Monza, you could see what happened, and Singapore was another good test to see how much progress we've made in that area."
As the Formula 1 circus heads to the Losail International Circuit in Qatar for the 18th race of the season, all eyes will be on Carlos Sainz. With his newfound confidence and a car that seems tailor-made for his skills, he's poised to continue his resurgence in the sport.
The Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of October 6-8, promises to be an electrifying showdown as Sainz looks to further solidify his status as a force to be reckoned with in Formula 1.
