Rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., while in pursuit of his fourth Dakar Rally title, has some firm advice for Ferrari’s F1 team concerning the car his son, Carlos Sainz, will drive in 2024. His comments, which could be seen as critical, were shared with Italy’s Autosprint during the rally event.
Sainz Sr. praised his son’s continuous improvement in Formula 1, highlighting the younger Sainz’s growing experience and potential. “What I appreciate about Carlos is that he always keeps improving,” he said, adding, “He is still young, but he already has a lot of experience behind him. I think it’s his best moment even for his age.” He also noted that unlike some drivers who plateau, his son has the knack for making progress year after year.
However, the conversation quickly shifted to Ferrari’s responsibilities towards his son. As Carlos Sainz Jr. seeks to secure his future with the team beyond 2024, his father emphasizes the need for a superior car from the Maranello outfit. “I have faith in the fact that Ferrari will be able to take the missing step,” he declared. “The 2024 car must be better and we hope that leap forward will come.” This sentiment comes amid speculation that Ferrari’s new boss, Frederic Vasseur, might be holding off on a lengthy contract extension with Sainz to explore other options.
In a positive twist, Italian media reports suggest that Ferrari has achieved its goal of reducing the 2024 car’s weight to the legal minimum of 798kg, a potential sign of the improvements Sainz Sr. is calling for.
