Carlos Sainz, the Spanish racing driver, shared his thoughts on his experience with McLaren during the Italian Grand Prix, focusing on how valued and supported he felt in the team. Now racing for Williams, Sainz emphasized the warmth and unity he experienced at the Woking-based organization throughout his tenure there.
Speaking with DAZN Espana, Sainz revealed that the atmosphere at McLaren was unlike any other Formula 1 environment he had encountered. He credited the strong relationships he built with team members and leadership as a key element in their collective success.
“It’s the first F1 environment where I’ve really felt loved, supported and embraced by every member of the team, the management and everyone else. Here I met Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Lando [Norris], Tom [Stallard], and suddenly I saw that we had created a super strong team.”
—Carlos Sainz, Driver
Sainz’s spell at McLaren was significant as it marked his first period outside the Red Bull Racing framework. During this time, he notched important milestones, including his first podium finish. His performances often overshadowed his teammate, Lando Norris, while he competed for McLaren before moving to Scuderia Ferrari ahead of the 2021 season.
One particularly memorable moment came during the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Sainz moved from last place to a podium finish, demonstrating his skill and determination. These accomplishments contributed to his growing reputation in Formula 1.
Carlos Sainz on His Last Grand Prix Victory with Ferrari
In addition to recalling his McLaren period, Sainz reflected on his most recent victory while with Ferrari, describing it as a defining moment in his career. He acknowledged that while the win was personally important, it also happened under specific circumstances linked to Ferrari’s current car performance.
The Spanish driver expressed confidence in teammate Charles Leclerc’s ability to secure wins once Ferrari provides a competitive vehicle. He highlighted the inevitability of Leclerc returning to the top of the podium when the team’s performance improves.
“Yes, well, it’s circumstantial, isn’t it? As soon as they have a winning car, Charles will take care of winning again because we know that when you give him the opportunity, he wins too.”
—Carlos Sainz, Driver
“But it is nice to have that victory, especially because it was such a beautiful victory for me in Mexico, a victory that was fundamental for me, and we achieved it.”
—Carlos Sainz, Driver
Sainz’s triumph at the 2024 Mexico Grand Prix was the fourth of his Formula 1 career. His maiden victory was achieved at the 2022 British Grand Prix, followed by wins in Singapore in 2023 and the Australian Grand Prix before the Mexico City race. Despite these successes, Ferrari has not secured another Grand Prix victory since Sainz’s Mexico win.
Since the start of the 2025 season and the addition of Lewis Hamilton to the Ferrari roster, the team has managed to claim only a Sprint Race victory in China. During this period, Charles Leclerc has still managed to finish on the podium five times, showing competitive promise despite not converting those finishes into race wins.
The Lasting Impact of Sainz’s F1 Journey
Carlos Sainz’s reflections offer insight into the importance of a supportive team environment in Formula 1, as well as the challenges faced by Ferrari in recent seasons. His positive memories from McLaren highlight how the right team dynamics can foster growth, while his comments on Ferrari underline the fine margins that influence race success.
As Sainz continues with Williams and Leclerc aims to regain Ferrari’s winning form, the experiences shared signal a hopeful outlook for both drivers and their teams moving forward in the sport.
