Vamos, Sainz! You Just Have One More Hurdle To Get Out Of Your Way!

When the most recent Formula 1 Grand Prix, one that took place in Canada was rendered complete, then the driver who stood second on the podium, his best-ever result at the famous Gilles Villeneuve-land shared the following over his social media account:

“Grazie team for the hard work. Let’s go get the next one,” exclaimed Carlos Sainz of Ferrari.

These weren’t merely celebratory words from the famous Spanish driver, one who until some time back was perhaps also described as Fernando Alonso’s greatest fan on the F1 grid; these were comforting words that echoed a sense of contentment.

And truth be told, there was a great sense to the occasion. For a driver who actually- lest it is forgotten- retired from a third of the races he has been a part of this season, a P2 at Montreal (Canadian GP) was an incredible result and not to mention, a great comeback of sorts.

In doing so, Carlos Sainz, who also set the fastest lap of the Grand Prix also outperformed his more experienced Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc; the Monegasque managing a fifth in the end.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, it is said. Ditto for Sainz at Canada, a moment of great reprieve.

Few others on the grid have experienced their hearts crushed and their spirits deflated the way Carlos Sainz had.

After spinning all thanks to erroneous, miscalculated moves earlier on in the season, events such as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which yielded a DNF for little fault of Sainz’s own (Ricciardo coming into the Ferrari #55) quite simply, destroyed his race.

But even then, the way Sainz, who missed out on scoring a podium at his home Grand Prix at Spain, has fought back at events like Monaco and as seen recently, Montreal is worthy of being lauded.

That’s when luck hasn’t really been his best friend this season or has it?

In fact, to many doing punditry on the sport, most noticeably, Martin Brundle, there’s a final hurdle of sorts that the Madrid born driver must now clear in his bid to truly break free!

Here’s what the famous English commentator had to say:

“It was a masterclass drive from the reigning World Champion and now comfortable World Championship leader Max Verstappen, but Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari pushed him very hard for the last 15 laps,” Brundle said in his latest Sky F1 column.”

But having said that, the senior Sky pundit was also of the view that where his racecraft stands, then Sainz’s borders on the likes of two other famous and rising figures of the grid: Lando Norris and George Russell.

That being said, here’s what he famously added:

“Carlos is like Lando Norris and George Russell in that he’s ready to win GPs but those victories just keep eluding him for varied reasons. I’ve always been a supporter of Carlos and sometimes I felt like a lone voice in the paddock, but he’s very good – especially during races.”

But having said that, what according to Martin Brundle has been the final hurdle that Sainz needs to resolve before he can truly come into his own this season for the famous Ferrari team?

Here’s what you ought to know:

The final hurdle for him is to combine his talent, sheer determination, aggression and experience into greater pin-point accuracy and consistency. The car will then relentlessly travel forward rather than occasionally sideways, and as soon as he wins the first GP he’ll be away. It was great to see those two [Verstappen and Sainz] slugging it out.”