Carlos Sainz Jr

1. Who is Carlos Sainz?

Carlos Sainz is a Spanish racing driver. He was born on September 1, 1994 in Madrid, Spain. He is currently a Formula One driver and has been with the Williams team since 1 after four seasons with Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz driving the FW45 during 2024 post-season testing © DPPI

2. Carlos Sainz’s junior career

Carlos Sainz during a Formula BMW race in 2010 in Barcelona ©Thierry Bovy DPPI

Son of the world rally champion who bears the same name as him, Carlos Sainz discovered single-seater racing in 2010 with Formula BMW. Quickly spotted by Red Bull, the Spaniard joined the Austrian team's junior program. He then moved up to Formula Renault the following year where he achieved 2 successes and 10 podiums in 14 races with Koiranen Motorsport. If he finishes 2nd, the Madrilenian consoles himself with his title in Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, still with the same structure.

In 2012, Carlos Sainz competed in the Formula 3 Euro Series, British Formula 3 and the Formula 3 European Championship. He did not experience the same success and ended the year without a title.

Promoted to the GP3 Series the following season at MW Arden, he led a double program since he was also entered in Formula Renault 3.5 with Zeta Corse. Here again, the descendant of the rally driver does not win a title but shows great things which open the doors to DAMS in 2014, still in Formula Renault 3.5. The marriage is perfect and the Madrilenian is crowned at the end of the campaign after 7 poles, 7 victories and 7 podiums. Impressed by her performances, Red Bull allowed her to make the bridge and join F1 without going through GP2 in 2015.

3. Carlos Sainz’s Grand Prix (F1) journey

Carlos Sainz at the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix © Florent Gooden / DPPI

Formula Renault 3.5 champion, Carlos Sainz became a Formula 1 starter at Toro Rosso, Red Bull's little sister, in 2015. After a promising start including four points finishes in the first seven Grands Prix, the Spaniard did not does not see the checkered flag for the next four races. His end of the season was mixed and he finished 15th in the drivers' standings with 18 points under his belt.

Its second season is very different from its first. Associated with the future world champion Max Verstappen then with Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz is more on his feet and during the first 11 races of the year, he won 8 Top 10s with the sister team of Red Bull. This time, the Spaniard had better luck and managed to collect no less than 46 points which allowed him to finish in 12th place, his best total in Formula 1.

2017 is the year of the turning point. Increasingly comfortable in Scuderia Toro Rosso where the transfer of Max Verstappen to Red Bull seems to have helped him, Carlos Sainz Jr has reached an agreement with Renault to arrive at Enstone (headquarters of the team) in 2018, leaving the Red Bull fold for the first time. Jolyon Palmer sidelined by the French, the Iberian finally changed sides for the last four races of the season which he finished 9th with 54 points.

For his first full season with the Losange in Formula 1, Carlos Sainz Jr only finished twice outside the Top 10 in the first 9 rounds. The rest is just as regular and the son of the rally driver completes the campaign in an honorable 10th place.

In search of renewal, McLaren announces its recruitment in 2019 to launch its new era alongside Lando Norris, outgoing Formula 2 vice-champion. After a complicated start, he gradually found his rhythm and gained confidence. His results on the rise, the one who could have turned to rallying at a younger age gets his first career podium in Brazil. In good spirits for his first year in orange, he ranks 6th in the drivers' ranking, synonymous with hope for the years to come.

The 2020 season has not yet started, Carlos Sainz Jr announces his departure from McLaren for Ferrari from 2021. Loyal to the Woking team, the Madrilenian confirms the progress of his team from the first races, culminating in a beautiful 2nd place at the Italian Grand Prix. After two retirements at Mugello (Tuscan Grand Prix) and Sochi (Russian Grand Prix), he had a high-flying end to the season with 7 points finishes in the last 7 races.

Now associated with Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz is enjoying the glory days of Scuderia Ferrari which is reborn after a chaotic 2020 season. In Maranello, the former teammate of the new world champion Max Verstappen made his mark. Expected far behind the Monegasque, the Spaniard surprised and managed to perform well for his first in red. Very consistent, Carlos Sainz Jr allows Ferrari to get the machine back on track after a 2020 to forget. Finally finishing 5th in the drivers' standings while Charles Leclerc finished 7th, he contributed to the return to form of the Italian firm which took 3rd place in the world championship this year.

Carlos Sainz on the Jeddah Circuit in Saudi Arabia © Florent Gooden / DPPI

In 2022, Carlos Sainz had an up-and-down season with Ferrari, marked by his first F1 victory at the British Grand Prix, but also by mistakes and difficulties adapting to the F1-75. The Spaniard remained in the shadow of a more consistent Charles Leclerc, finishing fifth in the drivers' championship. The 2023 season proved more complicated for Sainz and the Scuderia, faced with a Ferrari SF-23 that was behind its rivals. Although he took a solid podium at Monza and a victory in Singapore, he seemed to lack consistency throughout the year.

Celebration on the Singapore podium for Carlos Sainz © ANTONIN VINCENT / DPPI

Even before the start of the 2024 season, Carlos Sainz knows that this year marks the end of his collaboration with the Maranello team. Lewis Hamilton will take his place in 2025. Far from a choice out of spite, Sainz Jr. chooses to sign with Williams for 2025. For his last year, Carlos Sainz leads an honorable battle to help Ferrari win the Constructors' title, in vain. He places fifth in the drivers' standings with all the same nine podiums, including two victories before joining the Grove team.

4. AUTOhebdo’s opinion

After a timid start in the big leagues under the colors of Toro Rosso, Carlos Sainz gradually gained strength. Free from the Red Bull fold, he took his time to satisfy his teams. Correct during his time with Renault, he then showed solidity with McLaren by grabbing two 6th places in the championship and giving hope to Woking.

Having moved from McLaren to Ferrari in 2021, Carlos Sainz has been convincing in this first part of the season. Despite a somewhat timid start with an 8th place in Bahrain, the Spaniard did not let himself be put off and responded later by taking a fine 2nd place in the streets of Monaco. The son of the eponymous rally driver believes he is a potential world champion, if he has the right equipment. His solidity, shown in recent seasons as a good second to Charles Leclerc, and his good performance, already, in the 2024 post-season tests in Abu Dhabi with Williams allow him to establish himself as one of the drivers to watch for 2025. Carlos Sainz intends to show his power in one of the least expected cars on the grid.