James Hinchcliffe’s praise for Carlos Sainz: “His efforts have been monumental”. Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe admired the professionalism of Carlos Sainz.

Now a TV presenter for F1 TV, James Hinchcliffe’s past as an IndyCar driver cannot go unnoticed: in his 11-year career, the 38-year-old won six races and 18 podiums, becoming a well-known face in both American motorsport and the international Formula 1 scene, albeit in a different role. But with that in mind, who were the five drivers from the Circus who particularly impressed him this year?

The top 5
The answer came directly from the Canadian on the official F1 website: world champion Max Verstappen was praised, in a list that also includes Nico Hulkenberg, Yuki Tsunoda, Lando Norris, and Carlos Sainz. Hinchcliffe praised the Dutchman’s ability to always maximize his results in a season full of new experiences for Norris, and also admired Yuki Tsunoda’s growth in maturity, as well as Hulkenberg’s strong performances.

Why Carlos Sainz?
The former IndyCar driver was also very impressed with Carlos Sainz’s entire season, particularly due to the psychological challenges the Spaniard had to face before the season even started, after learning he would leave Ferrari at the end of 2024 because of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival: “You can look at the stats and compare poles, podiums, and points, but what impressed me was Carlos Sainz’s attitude and approach, given the very difficult circumstances he had to face this season,” he explained. “Starting the season knowing you’ve been excluded from a team for which you’ve worked admirably is a hard blow. Carlos Sainz didn’t do anything wrong to deserve losing his seat, except not being Lewis Hamilton. Despite feelings of pain and betrayal, from the pre-season tests he said he would race with all his heart until the last corner of the final lap of the season. And he did. Even after qualifying in Abu Dhabi, he said very little about the emotion of the moment, the reality of being just 24 hours away from no longer racing for the Scuderia. His eyes and words were focused solely on the Constructors’ Championship battle. Even though the team didn’t manage to win, his efforts throughout the year, not allowing himself to be overwhelmed by the emotions of the situation, were monumental.” – James Hinchcliffe concluded.