Carlos Sainz Jr, the Spanish driver who started his career in Formula 1 with Toro Rosso in 2015, has now become a force to be reckoned with. With consistent performances and impressive results, Sainz is slowly but surely making his mark in the world of F1. In this article, we will take a closer look at Sainz’s career so far and what the future holds for this talented driver.

The pair of drivers from Maranello

At Ferrari, however, it happens quite often that the duo who take to the track do not have well-defined hierarchies. It would be enough to think of the substantial equality of treatment and results of the Vettel-Leclerc duo in recent years, as well as famous pairings of the past such as the one made up of Berger and Alesi.

Moreover, the situation is repeating itself even now, because if it is true that the main driver is Charles Leclerc, it is still difficult to declassify Carlos Sainz as a “simple” second driver.

Sainz’s Career So Far

Carlos Sainz junior, not to be confused with his father, Carlos “El Matador” Sainz, winner of three Paris-Dakar Rallies and two world rally championships, after starting his Formula 1 career with Toro Rosso, Sainz moved to Renault in 2017 but failed to achieve any memorable results. However, he found his footing with McLaren, where he spent two years and achieved his first podium in Brazil in 2019. His performance at McLaren was impressive, with him beating his teammate Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings for two years in a row.

In 2021, Sainz moved to Ferrari and had a successful first season with the team. He finished the season in fifth place, beating his teammate Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ standings. He also achieved four podiums during the season, including a second-place finish in Monaco.

In 2022, Sainz continued his good form and finished the season in fifth place again. He achieved his first-ever Grand Prix win at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, a major highlight of the season. Although he was unable to overtake his teammate Leclerc in the standings, Sainz’s performances were crucial in securing Ferrari’s second place in the constructors’ championship.

What the Future Holds for Sainz

Sainz’s contract with Ferrari runs until 2024, which means he will have at least another season with the team. However, with both drivers’ contracts expiring in those months, Ferrari will have to consider their options for the future. The Red Bull team has expressed interest in Sainz, and if they don’t extend Sergio Perez’s contract, Sainz could potentially join Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Another possibility could be Mercedes, where Sainz could replace Lewis Hamilton, who is set to leave. However, Mercedes has a reputation for favoring a clear hierarchy between drivers, which could be an obstacle for Sainz.

Sainz’s impressive driving skills have also brought him some lucrative sponsorship deals. When he signed with Ferrari, he had the Spanish bank, Banca Santander, as his principal sponsor. Estrella Galicia, a Spanish brewery, and other personal sponsors such as Playstation and Shiseido also sponsor him. His annual sponsorship income is approximately 3 million euros.

Conclusion

Carlos Sainz Jr has shown great promise in his career so far, and his performances at McLaren and Ferrari have solidified his position as a talented driver in Formula 1. With a Grand Prix win under his belt and several podium finishes, Sainz’s future looks bright.

It will be interesting to see where he ends up next and how he continues to perform in the upcoming seasons.