Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz are ending their collaboration

An iconic duo from the Dakar bivouac is splitting up. Carlos Sainz Lucas Cruz and his teammates have experienced everything together since their first joint venture in 2010 on the tracks of South America. The Spanish duo has achieved victory four times with four different manufacturers and has participated in 14 Dakar Rallies together.

The 2026 edition will therefore have marked their last joint appearance, concluding with a fifth-place finish after a rally Quite discreet. Having passed into the shadow of Nani Roma and Mattias Ekström, respectively 2nd and 3rd overall driving the Ford Raptors, Carlos Sainz remained very evasive about his future throughout the event.

The end of his collaboration with Lucas Cruz inevitably raises questions about his future at 63 years old. "Lucas and I have mutually agreed to separate."Carlos Sainz posted this on his X account. “I want to thank him for his commitment, his work, and all these years we shared, during which we experienced incredible moments and great victories. I can only wish him the best and much success in the future. Thank you for everything, Lucas. I will share my future plans in the coming weeks.”

From then on, Lucas and he already decided to correspond together.
Quiero agradecerle his dedication, his work and all of these years ago, in which he brought to life incredible moments and great victorias.
Only you can look forward to the best and many things that come from… pic.twitter.com/IoWlIHBbVs

- Carlos Sainz (@CSainz_oficial) February 6, 2026

After beginning their collaboration in 2010 at Volkswagen, they won the world's most famous rally-raid on their first joint attempt, before Lucas Cruz joined Nasser Al-Attiyah in 2012. After three years alongside the Qatari driver, culminating in a 3rd place finish in the 2014 edition, Cruz reunited with Carlos Sainz at Peugeot With Peugeot, they triumphed in 2018 before joining Mini for another victory in 2020. Finally, it was with Audi that they added a fourth title to their record in 2023. Ford was their fifth different manufacturer, and the first with whom they didn't win. It now remains to be seen which driver Lucas Cruz will join next.

ALSO READ > Carlos Sainz: "I'm a big dreamer!"