I Have Great Respect for Vettel: Sainz

Carlos Sainz has revealed what four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel is really like behind the scenes.

Sainz and Vettel were team-mates when they were tasked with testing Red Bull’s car in Abu Dhabi five years ago.

Sainz was by far the junior driver of the two given the German was F1’s leading light.

Sebastian Vettel was hot off the back of winning four World Drivers’ Championships in a row – a record only bettered by Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher at the time.

However, it seems he did not regard himself as being above Sainz, who was yet to get a taste of F1 action.

“In the end, I had the feeling that I had made a good lap,” Sainz told Formula 1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, when asked about his meeting with Sainz in Abu Dhabi.

“Then Sebastian came into the garage and got into the same car right after me – with the same tires and a similar program.

“I assumed he would destroy my lap.

“In the end, he was only half a tenth of a second faster.”

And the 24-year-old has suggested he contrasts to other multiple-time F1 champions.

“[Vettel] tries to name everyone by name,” Sainz added.

“And he always takes time for you, asks about your family.

“You do not often see that in the paddock – especially not from a four-time world champion.”