Being the son of a driver who made history in his sport is not always easy. On one hand, you are immersed in a competitive culture from childhood, living every day with a role model you can look up to and rely on. On the other hand, comparisons are constant, and some may think your path was made easier due to your family connections. A famous surname can end up overwhelming a young rookie, overshadowed by their father’s countless successes. Formula 1 is full of examples of sons following in their fathers’ footsteps, from Antonio and Alberto Ascari in the early days to Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve, Graham and Damon Hill, Keke and Nico Rosberg, and Michael and Mick Schumacher. But there are also those who chose to race in a different category. This is what happened in the Sainz family: father Carlos Sr. is a rally legend, while son Carlos made his F1 debut in 2015 and drove for Ferrari from 2021 until this season.
The Carlos Sainz family
For Carlos Jr., matching his father’s accomplishments would be difficult. Firstly, it would require a career change that few drivers have undertaken, often with disappointing outcomes. Secondly, Carlos Sainz Sr.’s career is so long and filled with successes that it would be hard to even come close. “He’s a force of nature who never stops,” says his son. “He constantly pushes you to raise the bar. He’s someone who, after quitting rallying, decided to switch to rally raids and managed to win the toughest event of all, the Dakar Rally, three times.”
The careers of both Sainz drivers are still ongoing. At 59, Carlos Sr. has started a new adventure in Extreme E, driving electric SUVs, while Carlos Jr. has just concluded his last season with Ferrari. From next year, he will drive for Williams alongside Alex Albon. “My relationship with him has always been very intense,” says the 27-year-old from Madrid. “My father can’t sit still, and as a child, that meant always being pushed to do more. When I started to love karting, he supported and motivated me and had no issues with the fact that I wouldn’t follow in his footsteps.”
Carlos Jr.: “The Sainz surname is an honor, but at first, it was a burden.”
Carrying the Sainz name “has always been an honor,” says Carlos, “but at the start of my career, it was also a burden.” Speaking about the racing world, he says, “Insiders and the media can be cynical, and early in my career, many people implied I was only there because I was the son of a racing champion. During that time, my father pushed me and helped me give my best. That’s how I managed to prove, through my results, that I deserved the career I was carving out.” Now Carlos Jr. has completed his tenth Formula 1 season, four of which were with Ferrari. “I’d say I’ve learned to stand on my own two feet since then,” he says. “But it’s still important for me to know my father is by my side.”
Signing with Ferrari
Driving for Ferrari is a dream for many drivers, including Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver joined Maranello in 2021, replacing Sebastian Vettel and teaming up with Charles Leclerc. In 2024, his adventure in red came to an end, but he still remembers the day they sealed the deal. “As always, we had to work on several drafts of the contract, hold lots of meetings, and send emails back and forth between Madrid and Maranello. Plus, everything had to be done via video call because Covid made traveling impossible. That morning, I woke up at eight, and my father said, ‘Grab a pen, the Ferrari contract is here. You need to sign it.’ I was still in my pajamas,” laughs Carlos. “But I signed it right there and then.” – the future Williams driver concluded.
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