Sainz reveals added bonus to Australian GP win: 'This is going to help'

Carlos Sainz feels his prospects of finding a Formula 1 drive for next season will have been boosted by his Australian Grand Prix victory. Sainz secured his third career win at Melbourne's Albert Park, leading home a Ferrari one-two with team-mate Charles Leclerc crossing the line close 2.366s behind, albeit under a VSC after George Russell crashed on his penultimate lap . The Spaniard has so far proven himself to be a team player, scoring his latest success after learning two months ago that he would be departing Ferrari at the end of this season, as well as bouncing back from appendix surgery just over a fortnight ago. The Spaniard will be replaced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who will take over the seat when he ends his long-standing tenure with Mercedes. When asked if his win will help secure a drive for 2025, Sainz told media including RacingNews365 : “I don't know. For sure, it does no harm. That is 100 percent. “But I'm still without a job for next year. So I guess this is going to help it.”

Not proving himself

Sainz has been linked to several F1 projects, including the vacancy at Mercedes left behind by Hamilton. As he aims to secure his future, Sainz denied he needs to prove his capabilities to other teams on the grid. “I think everyone knows more or less what I'm capable of doing,” he said. “I do race for myself. “I race to keep proving to myself that I can win whenever I get a competitive car and whenever there's an opportunity to win in a weekend. I don't race to prove to team principals or to prove to people my value. “I race to prove to myself that if I'm given a car, I can get it done and I can be up there, you know, and that's the mentality and the approach that I have and I will keep having the rest of the year."