Sebastian Vettel famously said, “Listen, everyone is a Ferrari fan even if they say they are not they are Ferrari Fans.” Almost all the drivers on the grid have one ultimate dream and destination – Ferrari. Even during the repressive years of the Maranello Outfit, F1 greats have hopped on the prancing horse hoping to be the one to salvage it. Michael Schumacher, Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, and Fernando Alonso are some of the modern legends associated with the Italian Outfit. For the 25-something, at the time of his contract signing, Carlos Sainz Jr., it was a dream come true, quite literally.

What comes to your mind when you think of legal contract signings? Men in suits, long tables, office chairs, fresh pens and most importantly an office. But for Sainz, the formalities were way beyond his comprehension when he received the prized Ferrari contract.

A dreamy contract for sleepy Carlos Sainz

Ferrari is not just about fast cars. It’s an experience for the fans, the engineers, and the drivers. The legacy of the Italian Outfit precedes its reputation. Recalling back the moment when he dressed in Red for the first time, the Spaniard said in the event organized by the Gazzetta dello Sport, “There was my excited father who almost cried to see me dressed and drive a Ferrari.”  Three years later, the feeling is as new as ever for the Sainz family.

However, staying relevant in F1 has not been easy for Sainz. In 2019, the split with Renault made him hit rock bottom. He found during the summer that he was being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo. However, he managed to reserve a timely seat at McLaren. As hasty and forceful the switch to McLaren was, the jump to Ferrari came as easy to him. He revealed, “I was asleep and my father woke me up telling me that the Ferrari contract had arrived. I almost didn’t understand anything, I only realized it after I signed.”  For the Spanish driver, a contract from the Italian Outfit was a certification to his race craft.

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However, the Spaniard did not have the strongest start to his racing career at Ferrari. Often labeled the wingman to Charles Leclerc, he was looking for redemption. It came during the Silverstone 2022 when he held his ground against team orders and earned his maiden victory. His transformation from a mid-field driver to a podium finisher has been slow up until 2023.

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The emerging Sainz in the 2023 season

Qualifying ahead of his Monegasque teammate, Sainz was the highest point scorer for three races combined- Zandvoort, Monza, and Singapore, second only to Max Verstappen. His pole in Monza and Singapore was a teaser for what he was about to achieve at Marina Bay. With a thrilling roar of engine, F1 had the first non-redbull driver to win a Grand Prix this season. Sainz made a dent in the Red Bull streak with his maiden victory in the Singapore Grand Prix. When no one had an answer to the Bulls, Carlos Sainz came forward on his prancing horse.

Before joining the Italian Outfit, Sainz was excelling at McLaren. With two back-to-back top-six finishers in the drivers’ championship, he was the ideal candidate to fill in for the departure of Vettel. His performance in the 2023 season is a testament that Ferrari made the right decision onboarding the matador of Madrid racing royalty.

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After three years at Maranello, Sainz still believes he has more to achieve.  He often says that he is far from what he was at McLaren. It makes one wonder, what the Spanish driver could possibly do if he unlocks his full potential.