Sainz begins the year 2024 under the pressure of finding a team for 2025 after being let go by Maranello to make room for Lewis Hamilton. However, during the season opener in Bahrain, Sainz appeared unrestricted and performed admirably on the track. He surpassed his teammate, Charles Leclerc, to reach the checkered flag and secured his 17th career podium in Formula 1.
On Friday, Sainz was outperformed by Leclerc in qualifying and started the Grand Prix from fourth place on the grid. He then lost a position to Sergio Perez from Red Bull but managed to recover by skillfully overtaking his teammate and Mercedes’ George Russell.
Throughout the race, Leclerc struggled with his brake balance, but this does not diminish Sainz’s impressive performance. He flawlessly stayed in touch with Perez in the RB20, finishing less than three seconds behind him.
Reflecting on his race, Sainz remarked, “I believe it was a highly commendable race after a challenging start. I settled into my own pace, knowing that I had strong race pace from testing, and found my rhythm. I began overtaking cars and managed to keep up with Checo, which wasn’t easy due to the Red Bulls’ impressive pace and strategic use of the new soft tires. I am very pleased with this encouraging start.”
Sainz engaged in a thrilling battle with Leclerc on the track, which surely caused some anxiety on the Ferrari pit wall. However, the Spaniard asserts that he will not hesitate to make a move, even if it means overtaking his teammate. He emphasized, “I will seize any opportunity to overtake while prioritizing safety and cleanliness, as I did today. Especially when I have good pace and can extend my first pit stop, creating a tire advantage for myself. All of my overtakes were executed cleanly, tidily, and safely, which aligns with my racing principles.”
Undoubtedly, Sainz’s performance at the 2024 Bahrain GP will enhance his prospects of securing a top team for 2025. When asked if he felt this way, he responded, “I have been in Formula 1 for nine years, and in every race, I strive to demonstrate my capabilities to everyone. Simultaneously, after spending so many years here, everyone is aware of what I can achieve given the right working environment and tools to compete. As for my future, it is not something I am currently pondering; I only contemplate it during my time off.”
Additionally, Sainz received the title of Driver of the Day following his outstanding performance in Bahrain on Saturday.