Why is Sainz’s pass valued in F1?
On Sainz’s side, he first has to maintain the good performances he has been having at Ferrari, sometimes a little ahead, sometimes a little behind Charles Leclerc, considered a very fast driver. More than that: he sometimes demonstrated that he is a driver with qualities that the Monegasque lacks, being more incisive about strategies and having a great reading of the race. In the F1 paddock, he is highly regarded by engineers for his technical ability and dedication. He is a scholar and, therefore, is constantly evolving.
And look, there is no shortage of engineers or mechanics or team leaders who have worked with Sainz. He debuted at Toro Rosso, then worked at Renault and McLaren before arriving at Ferrari. And he left a good impression wherever he went.
“He is one of the best-rated drivers in the paddock,” says Leclerc. “And he’s been extremely strong whenever he’s been in a Formula 1 car. And that’s why I’ve said many times that I’m not too worried about his future, because I’m sure many, many team bosses are… He doesn’t say that, but they’re definitely talking to him.”
Maybe not with him exactly, but certainly with his father, rally and Dakar champion Carlos Sainz and with his manager and cousin, Carlos Oñoros. They were seen meeting with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff in Saudi Arabia and have been in talks for months with Audi, run by Sainz’s former boss, Andreas Seidl. Another possibility is a transfer to Aston Martin, if Fernando Alonso decides to retire (since the team boss, Mike Krack, has said a few times that the Asturian has the team’s preference).
