After clinching victory at Rally Argentina, Carlos Sainz stood on the podium with a proud yet thoughtful expression, reflecting on a milestone win that complicates his most difficult career choice to date. The 42-year-old Spaniard has long been questioned about whether he should continue or retire, but in the past year, he himself has confronted this decision with increasing seriousness, balancing his passion for racing against family commitments.
His contemplation revolves not only around his own ambitions but also the impact on those closest to him.
“At the moment I am feeling a little guilty,”
Sainz admits.
“I have a daughter and a son at home in Spain and I have spent such a long time away from them. That feeling is getting stronger. This summer the children have a month and a half away from school, but I can only be with them for a week and a half. It seems a little incorrect.”
Carlos Sainz’s Role as a Pillar of the World Rally Championship
Sainz’s influence extends far beyond his personal achievements; after 16 seasons at the pinnacle of rally racing, he is a defining figure within the World Rally Championship (WRC). His presence fills a void left by the retirement or hiatus of legendary drivers like Tommi Makinen, Colin McRae, and Richard Burns. During a transitional phase in the championship’s landscape, Sainz stands as one of its most charismatic and stable competitors.
While drivers like Petter Solberg and Marcus Gronholm offer entertainment and humor, Sainz’s consistent performance and dedication to perfecting his craft remain unmatched. Despite some opinions suggesting his prime has passed, he continues to challenge that notion by securing wins and maintaining high standards in competition. His deep involvement in testing and development showcases his near-obsessive commitment to excellence.
The Intense Work Ethic Behind Sainz’s Success
Malcolm Wilson, Sainz’s former team boss at Ford, recalls how the Spaniard’s relentless drive both challenged and advanced his team. Sainz’s strong determination to push limits helped transform the Ford Focus into a formidable contender between 2000 and 2002, where his insistence on testing improvements sometimes came at personal cost.
“He pushes people to the edge,”
Wilson notes.
“He certainly did it with me. There were times when Carlos pushed on with something in testing even when it wasn’t doing him any good, or even helping his own situation, but just because it was good for the team. It was great to have someone like him, who was willing to try everything in testing.”
Sainz’s former teammate Colin McRae, who raced alongside him at Subaru and Ford, echoes this praise. After Sainz’s 26th career win surpassed McRae’s tally, he expressed great admiration for the Spaniard’s dedication and patience, which have been vital to his sustained success.
“Carlos’s biggest strength is his perseverance,”
McRae states.
“He has enough patience to be thorough with something until he is satisfied it’s right. And then, when his judgement on something was right, which it usually was, he had the ability to put pressure on the team and everybody until he got his way, which helped with development.”
He also extols Sainz’s overall skill:
“Carlos doesn’t have any weaknesses. He does some things better than others, but look how long he’s been at the top; he couldn’t do that if he had a weak spot.”
Overcoming Challenges and Demonstrating Versatility
This season has presented difficulties for Sainz, particularly with the Citroen Xsara WRC not adapting well to his driving style. Nevertheless, at Rally Argentina, he dominated, setting a pace that even his team-mate Sebastien Loeb, known for surpassing Sainz in previous races, could only match. McRae highlights that Sainz’s reputation as a steady driver underestimates the exceptional talent needed to win on diverse surfaces and under varying conditions.
“You don’t win on so many surfaces in such varied conditions as the Spaniard has done without being a special talent,”
McRae remarks. His versatility is a key component of his legacy.
Despite holding the record for 26 WRC wins at the time, Sainz views this milestone objectively, valuing longevity and quality over numbers. Reflecting on his career longevity, he says:
“It is just a number. It doesn’t mean as much as the fact that I have won another rally 17 years after I started in the WRC and 13 years after I won my first event. Argentina was a very nice place to do it. It’s a good rally and the sport is very special to the people here – they are passionate about it.”
Sainz’s Passion for Rallying and Its Traditional Fan Base
Known for his strong opinions on the sport’s evolving direction, Sainz values the loyal enthusiasm found in classic rally locations like Argentina and Portugal. He critiques ventures into regions where rallying lacks strong fan engagement, advocating for the preservation of events with packed crowds and passionate spectators.
“In Argentina everyone is very welcoming to the rallying family. That is important for rallying. It’s the same way in Portugal. Sometimes people say there are too many people on the stages, but I can’t see that,”
he explains.
“You need good organisation. The public should never be a problem. The more people who come, the better it is for the manufacturers.”
Juanjo Lacalle, a member of Sainz’s management team, emphasizes that his charisma and competitive spirit have defined him both on and off the track.
“His charisma shines through in everything he does. Carlos the rally man is an extension of Carlos the man. He works really hard and hates losing, even at a game of Ludo. But he’s a great sportsman, and when he loses he gets over it and thinks about what’s next. He’s the leader in the WRC, just as he was the leader of his gang as a kid.”
The Importance of Adaptability in Sainz’s Longstanding Career
Early in his career, Sainz’s all-around ability to compete on different surfaces was seen as a challenge to the norm of specialized drivers. Yet this very adaptability helped him establish a formidable reputation across gravel, asphalt, and snow. He recalls that when he started, teams preferred specialists focused on particular surfaces, but he was determined to contest every rally.
“When I came into the sport, teams were all about specialists, they had this driver for that surface and another for the next,”
he reflects.
“When I came in and said I wanted to rally everywhere I was quite upset that people said, ‘Carlos Sainz is not a specialist’. But to be the best driver, you have to be competitive everywhere. Look at [Walter] Rohrl, he never went to Finland. I couldn’t wait to go to Finland.”
His perspective contrasts with fewer all-rounders in today’s championship, with only a handful like Petter Solberg and Sebastien Loeb claiming wins on both loose and sealed surfaces recently. Loeb’s continued success this season, including a win in Sweden on snow, positions him as a strong contender to challenge Sainz’s record.
Sainz acknowledges this talent openly:
“I’m sure that Sebastien can win the title a few times. He has a very big talent.”
Yet how long Loeb will pursue that target remains uncertain.
Top World Rally Championship Winners as of May 2025
1. Sebastien Loeb – 80 wins
2. Sebastien Ogier – 63 wins
3. Marcus Gronholm – 30 wins
4. Carlos Sainz – 26 wins
5. Colin McRae – 25 wins
The Future Implications of Sainz’s Career and Leadership
Carlos Sainz’s rally career and legacy are defined not only by his victories but by his unwavering dedication, tactical intelligence, and principled views on the sport’s evolution. As he weighs retirement, his potential future influence could extend beyond driving, possibly shaping rally governance or broader roles within FIA leadership.
His attributes of perseverance, adaptability, and leadership, demonstrated throughout his tenure, position him well for roles that demand strategic vision and experience. Whether he chooses to continue competing or transition to new challenges, Sainz’s impact on rallying remains profound and enduring.
