Sainz could surprise Ferrari, says his former F3 boss

Carlos Sainz may very well be a shock bundle when he groups up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari subsequent 12 months, in response to the Spaniard’s former F3 boss Trevor Carlin.

The Briton, who has had a string of Formula One drivers together with Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo race for him on their manner up, advised Reuters on Friday that Sainz may even have the benefit.

“Ferrari, if they thought they were hiring a number two, might have underestimated Carlos,” he stated. “I hope they haven’t done that.

“I know there’s this story going around that Red Bull have got a number one, Mercedes have got a number one, Ferrari have got a number one. But I don’t see that with Carlos.

“I think given the same kit and treatment and cars, he can run him close,” added Carlin.

“I think Carlos is bloody good. Maybe Charles might edge him in qualifying but when it comes to the race, I think Carlos will be all over him. I think he’s going to be fighting to earn his stripes there, he really is.”

Sainz, 25, was launched on Thursday as Leclerc’s future staff mate, changing four-times world champion Vettel whose departure on the finish of 2020 had been introduced two days earlier.

Australian Ricciardo will transfer from Renault to take Sainz’s place at McLaren.

Leclerc, 22, received two races for Ferrari in his debut season at Maranello final 12 months and outperformed Vettel, 32, on nearly each reckoning.

The Monegasque now has a contract to the top of 2024 and is anticipated to be the one main Ferrari’s bid for a primary title since 2008.

From expertise and remark, Carlin recommended Sainz won’t see it that manner.

PRESSURE ON

The son of a double world rally champion and three-times Dakar winner, Sainz has all the time set himself excessive targets and had a lot to reside as much as.

“I think the pressure actually will be on Charles’ shoulders,” stated Carlin. “When Carlos really steps up he could be the surprise show there and make the tifosi (fans) very, very happy.”

Sainz raced for Carlin within the 2012 British Formula Three and Euro Series, ending sixth and ninth total in them respectively.

The Briton stated the teenager had not loved ‘the roll of the dice’ again then.

The Spaniard was a Red Bull-backed driver on the time and went on to make his F1 debut with their Toro Rosso junior staff earlier than shifting to Renault on mortgage after which McLaren.

“When you go through Toro Rosso and that whole movement around, you don’t necessarily get the chance to develop fully,” stated Carlin of a staff that has introduced on some stellar younger expertise but additionally discarded loads of others.

“To me, the driver we saw 12 months ago at McLaren when he became team mates with Lando (Norris), that’s the Carlos I remembered when he drove for us back in F3. Far more relaxed, far more comfortable in himself and far more confident.

“He’s matured into the real deal. I was very, very happy for him.”

Carlin stated the affect of Carlos Sainz senior, ‘El Matador’, had been evident early on within the teenager’s driving type.

“The one thing we noticed when he drove for us was in the wet Carlos was absolutely exceptional when he started out,” he recalled.

“It was just ridiculous what he could do.

“That comes from driving dune buggies and dirt cars around the fields of Spain with his dad as a teacher. I think he would have been a damn good rally driver as well as a Formula One driver.”