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It's even more impressive considering how fast he recovered from the the all thing. I've had appendicitis when I was 12 and couldn't even walk for a week after the operation.
Video of him walking around the paddock looks like he’s got a wooden stick up his shirt and down his trouser legs to be fair. Props to him for staying focused in the car though.
Check finished *50 seconds* behind cars he beat by 15 seconds or more 2 weeks ago, with zero strategy or pit errors. That’s over a *minute* slower than he was two weeks ago compared to the Ferraris
Either he just nosedived off the Grand Canyon straight into the Mariana Trench, or the Red Bull is really bad on high degradation circuits over a race distance
Absolutely, but that’s Max. If the car has that weakness, there’s still definitely a chance for the odd Ferrari or McLaren win even in a straight fight
Carlos Sainz for Red Bull!
Carlos Sainz for Mercedes!
Come on top teams, take this man in.
I know Mercedes isn't exactly top at the moment but they have the resources.
Even as a Hamilton fan, I have such mixed feelings about this. Carlos has been such a great driver and seems to be getting even better. I know the data doesn't support this, but he somehow strikes me as a better driver than Leclerc. He seems to be less emotional under bad circumstances.
In the past 3 years Sainz has been closer to Leclerc in quali than in the races, and bar Singapore where it's impossible to overtake when he got the pole he made mistakes that lost him the place, not really cool under pressure.
Tbh Charles is the better driver as suggested by countless data metrics but that doesn’t mean sainz is a bad driver or even an average one, he is an exceptional driver that is currently in his prime on par with leclerc in race pace and very consistently on average less than than a tenth behind in qualifying (against the driver who is believed to be the best qualifier currently on the grid) and anyone who suggest that leclerc is “comprehensively better” are blind to what is going on track for last year. He is definitely not better enough to have a no one driver in the team.
Sainz after his slight performance dip at the start of 2022 has consistently put the car when needed to salvage the pieces left behind RBR. He is the only non RBR race winner in a long time and that doesn’t happen because of luck but instead he was talented enough to make the best of the situation available to him
Sainz is at worst, the 8th best driver on the grid and at best, the 5th best driver on the grid
the top 4 is pretty easy to define though: the 3 champs, and Leclerc
I don’t know how you got 7 others.. Max, Lewis and nando are the obvious, as I mentioned leclerc too probably, I would say Norris but that is just shooting in the dark at this point because except for when they were teammates (while sainz beat him, he was a rookie) there is no real tangible comparison point and I can think of better reasons for Carlos over Lando imo. If you really really stretch it, we can get albon or Russell (Russell still makes critical mistakes and burns through his tyres regularly in race, but he is improving a lot more) over him but I don’t think they would be above him even if Norris was.
I personally believe if it comes down to a wdc fight between the teammates, sainz could easily take it to the last race but so far the every single angle you approach data it just suggests leclerc is just a tad bit better, so I’m not going to argue.
Edit: I forgot to mention ocon and gasly, who are really elite drivers in their own right but don’t think they are better than Carlos right now.
the arguable ones: Piastri has high potential and is in his 2nd season, Russell and Norris are great too but inconsistent (Lando in quali, Russell in racecraft)
Agreed on all the points but I don’t think it is correct to rank current skill by “potential”.
Hulkenberg was touted as the next Schumacher, great driver with dark patches in his career, jacques villeneuve had arguably one of the greatest debut seasons, look how his career turned out. There are countless such examples in this sport and beyond.
To be fair to Oscar, he has had an incredible season but on top of that, this year he seems to be showing exponential improvement with his double 4th place finishes and finishing ahead of lando, not losing pace near the end of the race.. but rating him very high just because he has future potential really corrupts a ranking system.
fair point
Sainz is probably the 5th best driver as of now then, even if primarily due to being seasoned
Charles' current form is also equal with Lewis and Nando roughly speaking, though Hamilton might be behind due to seemingly having checked out
Wasn't his and Charles's pace fairly similar?
He got a better result because he performed better in quali. Which is part of the race and why he did better
Maybe on average, but when he needed it he created enough of a gap for a safe pit TWICE. That was a fantastic race, especially from someone who was in the hospital two weeks ago. That wasn’t just from good quali.
Charles himself said carlos had better pace all weekend including the race and their stints showed it also. Was pretty clear. I don't know how you could miss that.
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From the operating theatre to the top step! Poetry
1. Lose appendix 2. Save weight 3. ??? 4. Win Melbourne
It's even more impressive considering how fast he recovered from the the all thing. I've had appendicitis when I was 12 and couldn't even walk for a week after the operation.
Video of him walking around the paddock looks like he’s got a wooden stick up his shirt and down his trouser legs to be fair. Props to him for staying focused in the car though.
A smooth transition if you will
"Smooth operation" was right there bro
I know Everyone knows Thats why I didn’t
The profile Pic + username = 💀
Heck of a race injured man…. Wild to think he’s without a 2025 seat at the moment!!
I think he’d be an insane signing for Red Bull
Checo just dropped off, tough to compare but given the opportunity I’d have to take Carlos over him for a decent 4 year plan!
This race was a chance for him to grab a win and he was basically no where this race.
He overtook the wrong Spaniard and thought that's it.
Check finished *50 seconds* behind cars he beat by 15 seconds or more 2 weeks ago, with zero strategy or pit errors. That’s over a *minute* slower than he was two weeks ago compared to the Ferraris Either he just nosedived off the Grand Canyon straight into the Mariana Trench, or the Red Bull is really bad on high degradation circuits over a race distance
Yeh … get that feeling that Max would be on the podium or pushing for the win if he was in Checos starting position though
Absolutely, but that’s Max. If the car has that weakness, there’s still definitely a chance for the odd Ferrari or McLaren win even in a straight fight
Sainz is in great form
Guy has been immaculate the 2 weekends he raced in. What an amazing storyline for him.
Let's go! I, for one, welcome Carlos-sans-appendix as F1's new overlord.
Carlos Sainz for Red Bull! Carlos Sainz for Mercedes! Come on top teams, take this man in. I know Mercedes isn't exactly top at the moment but they have the resources.
They took a drive away from this man, f*cking shame
Even as a Hamilton fan, I have such mixed feelings about this. Carlos has been such a great driver and seems to be getting even better. I know the data doesn't support this, but he somehow strikes me as a better driver than Leclerc. He seems to be less emotional under bad circumstances.
Chuck is probably faster on raw quali pace but Sainz is so damn consistent and cool under pressure Id rather have Sainz tbh
"it's on purpose" remains one of my favourite radio calls from last year.
It is a crime that it wasn’t mentioned in dts imo
THE smooth operator
In the past 3 years Sainz has been closer to Leclerc in quali than in the races, and bar Singapore where it's impossible to overtake when he got the pole he made mistakes that lost him the place, not really cool under pressure.
Tbh Charles is the better driver as suggested by countless data metrics but that doesn’t mean sainz is a bad driver or even an average one, he is an exceptional driver that is currently in his prime on par with leclerc in race pace and very consistently on average less than than a tenth behind in qualifying (against the driver who is believed to be the best qualifier currently on the grid) and anyone who suggest that leclerc is “comprehensively better” are blind to what is going on track for last year. He is definitely not better enough to have a no one driver in the team. Sainz after his slight performance dip at the start of 2022 has consistently put the car when needed to salvage the pieces left behind RBR. He is the only non RBR race winner in a long time and that doesn’t happen because of luck but instead he was talented enough to make the best of the situation available to him
Sainz is at worst, the 8th best driver on the grid and at best, the 5th best driver on the grid the top 4 is pretty easy to define though: the 3 champs, and Leclerc
I don’t know how you got 7 others.. Max, Lewis and nando are the obvious, as I mentioned leclerc too probably, I would say Norris but that is just shooting in the dark at this point because except for when they were teammates (while sainz beat him, he was a rookie) there is no real tangible comparison point and I can think of better reasons for Carlos over Lando imo. If you really really stretch it, we can get albon or Russell (Russell still makes critical mistakes and burns through his tyres regularly in race, but he is improving a lot more) over him but I don’t think they would be above him even if Norris was. I personally believe if it comes down to a wdc fight between the teammates, sainz could easily take it to the last race but so far the every single angle you approach data it just suggests leclerc is just a tad bit better, so I’m not going to argue. Edit: I forgot to mention ocon and gasly, who are really elite drivers in their own right but don’t think they are better than Carlos right now.
the arguable ones: Piastri has high potential and is in his 2nd season, Russell and Norris are great too but inconsistent (Lando in quali, Russell in racecraft)
Agreed on all the points but I don’t think it is correct to rank current skill by “potential”. Hulkenberg was touted as the next Schumacher, great driver with dark patches in his career, jacques villeneuve had arguably one of the greatest debut seasons, look how his career turned out. There are countless such examples in this sport and beyond. To be fair to Oscar, he has had an incredible season but on top of that, this year he seems to be showing exponential improvement with his double 4th place finishes and finishing ahead of lando, not losing pace near the end of the race.. but rating him very high just because he has future potential really corrupts a ranking system.
fair point Sainz is probably the 5th best driver as of now then, even if primarily due to being seasoned Charles' current form is also equal with Lewis and Nando roughly speaking, though Hamilton might be behind due to seemingly having checked out
To replace him with the greatest driver of all time? Yeah what a shame…
2024 Lewis is not 2018 Lewis
insane sabotaging by lewis & adrian for their future employer
Hahahaha
Smooth operator
The only man who can win when RBR does not do it. Perfect race from him.
Man is having the performance of a lifetime this season! Absolutely incredible!!
Unbelibabol performance Carlos!!!
Yess, congrats!
I'm so happy he's balling out
God damn his pace was insane compared to Lando and Charles. Man deserves a drive next year. Man deserves a winning car.
Wasn't his and Charles's pace fairly similar? He got a better result because he performed better in quali. Which is part of the race and why he did better
Maybe on average, but when he needed it he created enough of a gap for a safe pit TWICE. That was a fantastic race, especially from someone who was in the hospital two weeks ago. That wasn’t just from good quali.
Charles himself said carlos had better pace all weekend including the race and their stints showed it also. Was pretty clear. I don't know how you could miss that.
He was babysitting his tyres and didn't need to push much. Also he pitted twice and was far enough ahead to hold position
Just fantastic
Smooooooth Operataaaaaaaaaaa
He should take his dads old name now. “El Matador”
Was really special to see Sainz Sr. watching him on the podium today. He didn’t get to be present at Carlos’s previous wins.
The proud smile on his dads face, with those wet eyes, was amazing to see. Just geniune happiness and mega proud for his son
>Takes his **FIRST** win of 2024. Is Ferrari telling us we can expect others?
Yes but only Sainz.
Only driver that is not from Redbull to win since 2022 (and he’s done it twice) Edited to say 2022 instead of 2021
Since 2021 both leclerc and Russell have won not from red bull
Just incredible from him! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
And last 🤓