Max Verstappen’s performance gives Carlos Sainz hope for his own F1 title prospects. Verstappen's title win gives Carlos confidence he can follow suit .

Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz admitted that seeing his former teammate Max Verstappen win the 2021 Formula 1 world championship has given him hope for his own prospects.

Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen were teammates at Toro Rosso team when they each made their debuts in Formula 1 back in 2015. The Dutchman was promoted to Red Bull one year later, taking his first victory with the senior team.

On the other hand, Carlos Sainz left the Red Bull teams and moved to McLaren where he scored several podiums finishes and impressed in many moments before joining Scuderia Ferrari for the 2021 F1 season: he ended his first year alongside the Maranello team by finishing P3 at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last weekend.

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Despite a great performance for the Spanish driver, the entire focus was on Max Verstappen who the duel with title rival Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit to not only win the race but also take the World Championship in the process.

Carlos Sainz has offered his congratulations to the Dutchman and feels that it reflects well on his own chances of following suit.

“I think whoever came [out] on top today was going to deserve it,” – the Ferrari drier explained, when asked about the title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen – “I think they are two great drivers at the peak of their careers, putting together a great show. Congratulations to both, especially for Max, obviously, after that mega win. [I’m] happy for him because we shared our first year [in Formula 1] together at Toro Rosso, and to see him now capable of winning a World Championship, it’s also like a good thing for me, and I look up to it.” – Carlos Sainz said.

The Spanish driver thus ends the 2021 Formula 1 season in fifth place and becomes the first teammate of Charles Leclerc able to beat the Moneagsque driver in the final standings.