Ferrari star Carlos Sainz reveals his ‘IDOLS’ in F1

Three-time Grand Prix winner Carlos Sainz is considered by many as one of the best drivers on the modern Formula 1 grid.


Ferrari star Carlos Sainz reveals his ‘IDOLS’ in F1

Carlos Sainz, image via IMAGO

Carlos Sainz has been competing at the pinnacle of motor racing since 2015. Today he is seen as one of the best/most consistent drivers on the modern F1 grid and while the ongoing 2024 season is at a halt, he has taken the time to reveal his idols in the sport.

Carlos Sainz has been fascinated with F1 from a very young age. He started watching the sport when he was just 10 and grew up watching legends like Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher.

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The three-time Grand Prix winner himself recently shed light on the same.

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Watching Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Raikkonen battle back in the 2000s. That golden era, I think, was incredible for F1. Just seeing them, they were my idols when I was 10 years old when they were fighting for championships.

Carlos Sainz via GPblog

Looking at the reaction of the 30-year-old, he has made it very clear that he was extremely fascinated by Alonso, Schumacher, and, Raikkonen doing their thing in F1. Raikkonen and Schumacher are no longer competing in the sport but the ever-green Alonso is still going strong at the age of 43 years.

Carlos Sainz’ ‘best friend’ in F1 is McLaren’s Lando Norris

While Carlos Sainz grew up watching the absolute best in F1, since his debut in the sport, he has had several teammates in different outfits. Sainz has usually jelled up well with all of them but there is one driver he considers an extremely close friend, and that is Lando Norris.

Lando Norris and Carols Sainz (via IMAGO)
Lando Norris and Carols Sainz (via IMAGO)

The duo shared two seasons as teammates at McLaren before Sainz moved to Ferrari in 2021.

Apart from my team, so obviously friends inside the team. Friend is a strong word that I don’t like using for anything or anyone. My best relationship in the paddock of all the drivers and engineers I would say still Lando [Norris] and some of my engineers that I’ve had – Tom Stallard, Ricky [Riccardo Adami], I have really good relationships with.

Carlos Sainz via the same interview

Sainz has joined the Grove-based Williams F1 team for the 2025 season. He will be seen repping the blue-white gear alongside Alex Albon. This will be the first time when the duo would share the same garage in the sport.

Both Sainz and Albon are prolific drivers who have proved their mettle in F1 several times. Keeping in view their might behind the wheel, it will be fascinating to see how they would stack up against each other in an ever-improving Williams F1 team.