Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes that Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has the potential to continue his development and become a top class Formula One driver.
Carlos Sainz joined Scuderia Ferrari ahead of last season to race alongside Charles Leclerc and replaced four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, after the Spanish driver spent two solid years with McLaren, finishing P6 in the 2019 and 2020 Formula 1 seasons.
Many felt that Carlos Sainz would have a difficult time at the Maranello team in keeping up with Charles Leclerc, but far less believed he would finish ahead of the Monegasque driver in the 2021 final standings. Yet that is exactly what Carlos achieved.
With an impressive four podium finishes during 2021, Carlos took P5 in the standings, behind the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers and is now close to signing a new contract with the Italian side.
Jolyon Palmer admits that Carlos Sainz was initially seen as a second driver to Charles Leclerc when the 2021 championships started, but earned himself the privilege of an equal status in the Maranello team, while also feeling that the Spanish driver could go all the way to the elite level in Formula 1.
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Selecting Carlos Sainz as his most improved driver in his 2021 season review for the F1 website, Jolyon Palmer wrote: “A tough call for most-improved given Sainz has been in the top six in the standings for the last three years now.” – he explained.
“On the face of it, the fact that Sainz and Norris would both jump out as improved drivers this year demonstrates that they were probably underrated as McLaren team-mates, at least by me. But I do think Sainz has stepped up at Ferrari wonderfully, with the culmination being his podium in Abu Dhabi to take him to ‘best of the rest’ in the standings, and become the first driver to outscore Charles Leclerc as a team-mate in any car racing series. Like many drivers who changed teams, he started slowly, but finished fast and improved well throughout 2021 as well. When Ferrari signed him early in 2020, it seemed he would be a great second fiddle to Leclerc, but perhaps they might just be re-evaluating that assessment now. I think this year he has shown the potential to be an absolute top tier driver.” – the former Formula One driver concluded.
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