Formula 1 driver, Carlos Sainz, held his yearly Christmas press conference -with his personal sponsor Estrella Galicia 0,0- this past Monday 21 of December, where he spoke of his farewell season with McLaren as well as his expectations and goals for the new stage with Ferrari starting in 2021. 

As it was to be expected, the Spaniard was visibly satisfied with his second and last season with the Woking team. This year Sainz managed to repeat his sixth position overall of 2019, thanks to an excellent performance during the second half of the championship.  

As the 2020 season went by, Carlos Sainz kept growing as a driver consolidating himself as one of the most robust members of the grid. And he has managed to do so at this particularly complicated season which has followed the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, with a squeezed calendar comprising 17 races arranged in sets of threes. 

A good result for an odd year 

Looking back, the driver from Madrid has acknowledged that 2020: –“has been strange, particularly during the first races, travelling again and arriving at an empty paddock. Although we got used to it, we miss the action”. 

“The start of the season was tough; we suffered several setbacks. But when those things were solved, during the last six or seven races, we were able to straighten out the season. I have managed to get a good result and leave with a good taste in my mouth “, said Carlos Sainz. 

Emotional farewell to McLaren  

Carlos Sainz leaves many friends at McLaren, as reflected by the many displays of affection from his teammates on his goodbye. Possibly, this camaraderie and closeness have been key to both the collective success of the team and that of the Spanish driver himself. 

“The last few days have been very emotional for me. Receiving all those messages of love and support from fans and from the other team members is what fulfils you the most as a person and as a driver. You leave with a good feeling”. 

 “What will I miss the most? The people. You spend so much time with them that they end up becoming very close”, said Carlos Sainz. 

Dressed in red for the first time 

Last Friday, Carlos Sainz visited La Scuderia factory in Maranello for the first time and tried on the red overalls. 

“It was an official jumpsuit, but without no sponsorship labels, although it is the same one that I am going to use in the tests. It is made to measure. When you see that it looks good on you and you look in the mirror and think: “This is (really) happening (…) I’ve already climbed onto a Ferrari for the first time to have my seat made”. 

A good relationship with Leclerc   

As for his relationship with Charles Leclerc, Sainz has revealed that he has already had several conversations with his new partner and is confident that they will have a good relationship. 

“I’m not going to lie; I have taken every opportunity I’ve had to talk to Charles. Normally, before the national anthem of the host country I would ask him how did yesterday go or how was the last race. Conversations that did not exceed one minute but I did talk to him. I have had a very good relationship with Charles from the year he first came to F1 and I hope we will get along well”. 

With no end date in Ferrari 

The #55 has also confessed his objective is to remain in Ferrari well past the two years of his initial contract. He has also declared he is not afraid Mick Schumacher, regarding the rumoured ascent to F1 of the seven-time champion’s son. 

“Seem right. It’s everyone’s goal, two good years moving in the right direction. I arrive at Ferrari without a planned end date, just to start a new cycle and on equal terms with my teammate. I’m not worried about Mick Schumacher”. 

Only one and a half days of testing at Ferrari  

On the other hand, Carlos Sainz has acknowledged the challenge of adapting to a new team and car with only a day and a half of testing before the start of the 2021 World Championship. 

“It is going to have a negative effect on my preparation. In F1 we are used to doing 2 to 4 days of full testing. This year, with a new car, a new steering wheel and new sensations, we will only have a day and a half in the best of cases, weather permitting. Us who are starting in new teams are going to feel it in the first few races”. 

Images of Carlos Sainz: Estrella Galicia 0,0.