Carlos Sainz Celebrates Victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix
MEXICO CITY — Carlos Sainz triumphantly climbed atop his vibrant red Ferrari, arms outstretched and fists raised, overflowing with emotion after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix. Starting from pole position, Sainz initially lost the lead to Max Verstappen but successfully fought back to deliver one of the strongest performances of his Formula One career. His race engineer, Ricciardo Adami, heralded the outing as “a master class” over the radio at race conclusion.
Historic Win for Sainz and Ferrari
Sainz is the first driver to win the Mexico City GP from pole in eight years and the first Ferrari driver to achieve this victory since Alain Prost in 1990. This season marked the first time Sainz secured multiple Grand Prix wins, having previously triumphed in Australia just 16 days after undergoing surgery.
Despite a rough start to the season, Ferrari has shown significant improvement following recent upgrades, positioning themselves second in the constructors’ standings with four races remaining. Sainz expressed his desire for another win before leaving Ferrari, stating, “Honestly, I really wanted this one — I needed it for myself, and to do it here in front of this mega crowd is incredible.”
Race Highlights and Challenges
Sainz faced a challenging race after losing the lead to Verstappen as they barreled toward Turn 1. Following a safety car period due to an early collision, Sainz stayed close to Verstappen, waiting for the right moment to strike. “With Max, you need to be determined. You need to be decisive,” Sainz noted, recalling how he managed to retake the lead on Lap 9 with a well-timed move supported by DRS.
Once in the lead, Sainz experienced a relatively uneventful race, aside from a minor misfire attributed to the track’s altitude and car mapping. He expertly maintained his pace and strategy to secure a confident win despite a brief scare earlier in the race.
A Tearful Victory and Future Plans
As the Spanish national anthem played during the celebration, Sainz couldn’t help but shed tears of joy. His family, including his father and partner, were present to witness this significant moment. Reflecting on his win, he remarked, “It’s one of the best moments in my career. My mom had never been present on a race win with me… the way the whole weekend panned out, it was just perfect.”
Sainz is set to leave Ferrari for Williams Racing next season, highlighting a challenging year filled with highs and lows for both him and the team. With Ferrari in contention for the constructors’ championship — currently 29 points behind McLaren — the goal remains clear for Sainz: to help secure a strong finish for the team before his departure. “Not an easy year, but proud of the way that I’ve managed to keep myself in it,” he concluded.
Source and credits: www.nytimes.com
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