Sainz claims victory in Mexico, sets sights on final races with Ferrari
Sainz reflects on ‘needed' Mexico GP victory before Ferrari departure.
Carlos Sainz expressed his satisfaction with his triumphant performance at the Mexico Grand Prix, marking his last anticipated win with Ferrari as he prepares to transition to Williams for the next season. Sainz's victory solidified his goal of one final win with the Scuderia before departing, and he finished 4.705 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc securing third place.
Ferrari's impressive points haul in Mexico allowed them to overtake Red Bull in the constructors' championship standings, now trailing leaders McLaren by just 29 points. Reflecting on his victory, Sainz stated, "Honestly, I really wanted this one. I really needed it for myself and wanted to get it done. I've been saying for a while I wanted one more win before leaving Ferrari, and to do it here in front of this mega crowd is incredible."
With four races remaining, Sainz aims to savor his time with Ferrari and remains hungry for further successes. "Now with four races left I want to enjoy it as much as possible, and if another one [win] comes I'm going to go for it. I've been feeling the support of the Mexican fans all weekend, so I guess Spanish speaking is something that helps. It felt like after Checo [Sergio Perez], probably they were supporting me."
Sainz celebrated his victory with his family present, including his mother, girlfriend, and father, racing legend Carlos Sainz Sr. "Since I arrived in Mexico, I had a feeling that the win was possible. I knew my family was coming to see me this weekend – my mum was going to be present – I never won a race with my mum in front of me – and my best friends are here and my dad. I was like 'there might be something cooking' this weekend and I need to make the most of it."
Sainz also shared the emotional significance of this win, feeling it was well-deserved after a year of consistent performance. "Everyone knew I wanted one more race win with Ferrari. I felt like I also deserved it; I've been driving well all year, pushing flat out, keeping my motivation high – even in difficult circumstances – and wanting to give everything for this team. I feel like I drove some really good races, and one more I had to win. Eventually, it happened, and it had to be in Mexico in front of my family. It doesn't mean I'm not going to try and win more."
Starting from pole position, Sainz had an early setback, losing the lead to Max Verstappen at the first corner. However, he regained control after a spectacular maneuver during the safety car restart. "I was just annoyed at the start to lose a position with him, and I needed to surprise him one way or another because Max is super difficult to pass, which he has proven many times. I was a bit far back, but I had nothing to lose, so I said I'm just going to send one down the inside, and I've been very confident at the braking into Turn 1 this weekend, and I knew I could make it."
Verstappen's race saw a significant setback as well, finishing sixth after a 20-second penalty for an incident with Norris, which affected his standing. Norris's second-place finish reduced the points gap to 47 points with four races left in the season.
With his sights set on enjoying his remaining races with Ferrari, Sainz's victory in Mexico City stands as a memorable farewell performance, showcasing both his skill and determination.
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