When you’re a Formula 1 driver, coming second best just means you’re the first one to lose. This isn’t lost on Carlos Sainz. During the Brazilian GP Sprint Race, the Spaniard made an aggressive move on Max Verstappen to clinch track position. But was he apologetic about his maneuver?

Even though the Spaniard will take a grid penalty for the main race, he was not one to just let Verstappen be during the Sprint. The Dutch driver was a wounded beast due to him being on a slower tire, and Carlos Sainz took full advantage of it. But Verstappen didn’t make it easy. In the struggle that ensued, there was contact, and Verstappen’s RB18 came off worse.

When asked about it, Sainz said, “They are so difficult to pass and I had to really go tight into Turn 1 in order to pass him. With a Red Bull, you’re either aggressive under braking or you don’t pass them because they’re so quick on the straight that you really need to go for it under braking.”

The Spaniard added, “I’m sorry if I had a bit of contact but that’s racing and sometimes you need to go for it if you want to make it stick.”

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It would appear that Sainz has in a way written off this season. That being said, he has not lamented the fate bestowed on him. Rather, in a way that does justice to any racing driver, he has his sights firmly set on the apex of the 2023 F1 season.

Carlos Sainz believes his 2022 struggles have transformed him

They say, the car goes where your eyes go. By being a racing driver, no one understands this better than Carlos Sainz. 2022 has been a year of understanding, adapting, and misery. But the Spaniard has absorbed what he needed to and has already moved on to 2023.

Talking about this, he said, “I’ve learned a lot. I’m proud of the progress I’ve done inside the car, with my engineers, the way that we managed to turn my pace around. And yeah, I’ll make sure next year we are back to being the consistent Carlos of 2021 and get good results.”

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If Ferrari can eliminate the gremlins that plagued their 2022 F1 season, they will have a solid chance to fight for the title next year. But will it be Carlos Sainz who leads them to glory after all?