Losing a driver like this will cost Ferrari dearly. The display of skill, strength, temperament, and class that Carlos Sainz demonstrated in the Mexico City Grand Prix is something that won’t soon be forgotten. And it will weigh heavily because when Lewis Hamilton takes his place at Ferrari in 2025, inevitable comparisons will bring with them a sense of regret.
The way Carlos Sainz achieved victory silenced everyone and especially highlighted him. In the end, he subtly tempered the enthusiasm in his handshakes and smiles with the various figures of the Prancing Horse. The thought of Carlos Sainz driving for Williams next year is something that, despite full respect for the team which signed him, leaves a bitter taste. Carlos Sainz, besides being a gentleman of a bygone era, is a driver who unites the team, who has always bonded with the Maranello engineers in difficult times, and who performs at his best when the opportunity arises. How many drivers today can overtake Max Verstappen in such a manner? And how many can withstand the pressure of an aggressive and fast teammate like Charles Leclerc? Let’s be honest: probably very few, if any. If McLaren had had Carlos Sainz this year, the championship might have been theirs, as the Spaniard has a race sense few possess.
When he overtook Max Verstappen in the ninth lap with a spectacular move, Carlos Sainz immediately extended his lead, and Charles Leclerc, who was right behind him, quickly realized that the Spaniard would put up a fierce fight. His pace, carefully controlled to stay ahead of his pursuers, kept him safe from technical risks and possible comebacks. After all, this is his strength, and once again, it proved victorious. Bravo Carlos, and bravo to Ferrari, far from the difficulties encountered in the first part of the 2024 Formula 1 season, despite the fact that Lando Norris’s clumsy driving helped both Carlos Sainz and the Maranello team. In any case, the British driver has now reduced his gap with Max Verstappen to 47 points to make up in only four races. Is it still possible to catch Max Verstappen? Yes, but the math still favors the Dutchman.
The driver of the race on the negative side, namely Max Verstappen, did his best to earn penalties, disregarding the hostile atmosphere after the United States Grand Prix in Austin, and he succeeded with a couple of unnecessary moves against Lando Norris. After serving a 20-second stop, he ran an exceptional race, climbing nine positions to finish sixth. The truth is that Red Bull is no longer what it once was, and he is doing everything he can to give it a final send-off.
