Carlos Sainz has looked back on his favourite Ferrari memories, ahead of his departure at the conclusion of the upcoming 2024 season.
2024 will be Sainz's fourth and final year as a Ferrari driver, with the Spaniard being the biggest loser of Lewis Hamilton's 2025 arrival.
It's Sainz who the seven-time World Champion is replacing next year, after Hamilton agreed to a multi-year deal at the beginning of February to partner Charles Leclerc. Hamilton moving to Maranello has already been touted as potentially the biggest driver transfer in the history of F1, although it's left Sainz without a seat in 2025.
With 13 drivers, including Sainz, being without a contract for next year currently, the 29-year-old isn't going to be scarce of options. In fact, Sainz is just one of six race winners available in the driver market.
Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021 after two successful seasons with McLaren, where he was alongside Lando Norris. Many immediately viewed him as a likely number two to Leclerc; however, the Monegasque was beaten by the Spaniard in the 2021 standings.
The son of rally legend Carlos Sainz Snr has demonstrated impressive consistency throughout his time at Ferrari, whilst he's also picked up two victories along the way. His maiden win not only in red but also in F1 came at the 2022 British Grand Prix, whilst his most recent, and arguably most impressive, victory came last year in Singapore.
At the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, Sainz converted pole position into a strong victory, where he became the only non-Red Bull driver to take home the winners' trophy.
It had been anticipated that he'd stick with the Italians beyond his 2024 contract, only for the Hamilton announcement to catch everyone by surprise. Nevertheless, Sainz has loved his time with the Scuderia and is hoping to create more memories this year.
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'Very good memories'
"Just going back, I have very, very, very good memories in this team," Sainz told select media including RacingNews365.
"But I would start with the first day driving a Ferrari in Fiorano. My first-ever lap for Ferrari was one of the most emotional moments of my career. First podium with Ferrari, first week with Ferrari, first pole, first win and then, obviously, my Singapore win.
"And then, along the way, a lot of great moments with the people in this team.
"I take with me a lot of good friends in the paddock. A lot of great engineers that I've worked with, great mechanics, great management people in different levels. And then, hopefully, still with one year ahead of us still good memories to be made."
As well as creating memories for life at Ferrari, Sainz also believes the experience in general has made him a more mature individual, given how racing for the historic side is like nothing else.
"It's been a great experience for me, I think it has only made me grow as a driver to experience life in red, experience travelling the world as a Ferrari driver, going to all the circuits," added Sainz.
"I'm going to do all kinds of scenarios, not being a Ferrari driver. It also made me mature, you know, also in front of the press, in front of the Tifosi, in front of everyone. It's also a different working environment and a different working atmosphere than in any other team. But I enjoyed myself a lot.
"I think I've done a lot of good things in red, I've achieved my most important and most successful results in red. And with as I said, with one year ahead, hopefully there's still more of those good feelings to come."
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