Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz says he is not worried about the way in which his predecessor Sebastian Vettel ended the partnership with the Italian side:
“I’m not afraid that will happen,” the Spanish driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport – “But I don’t see it that way – that Ferrari can devour a driver. I see what people say about Vettel, that Ferrari devoured him, but that’s not the case – at least for me,” he added.
Carlos Sainz, 26, arrives at Maranello this year after switching from McLaren. It is widely suspected that Ferrari sees him as a ‘number 2’ for Charles Leclerc, although the team denies that. Carlos Sainz said of Sebastian Vettel’s demise: “He had been there for five years, he went away with 11 wins and many podiums and leaves a story behind him, so for me they did not devour him. Seb should be proud of what he left behind – let’s see who else does 11 victories at Ferrari like he did. Maybe I am on murky territory but that’s how I see it.”- he explained.
Carlos Sainz rejected the idea that he has been signed by Ferrari in a kind of Barrichello or Bottas-like role – a number 2 in everything other than name.
“I know what you mean, but to have such thoughts you have to think in the medium or long term – about what you will leave behind when you go. I don’t think about how it will be in 4-5 years – I think about how to do a top 5 or a podium in Bahrain. I am not thinking that if I don’t beat Leclerc then I am the second driver. I know this worries the media and the fans, but I don’t think like that,” Sainz added. “I just want to do my best, starting already in Bahrain. It also depends on factors other than yourself in Formula 1 – it’s not the 100 metre sprint at the Olympics. Sometimes even with talent you don’t become champion because you haven’t been in the right place at the right time.” – he concluded.
