Triumphant Sainz uses Ferrari’s departure as extra motivation

MEXICO CITY: Carlos Sainz said he was determined to win Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix to earn at least one more victory before leaving Ferrari at the end of the season.

Sainz, who moves to Williams after Ferrari signed seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in his place, celebrated his fourth career win and a first for Ferrari in Mexico since 1990.

“It was an incredible victory and a unique feeling. It had to come here in Mexico, a place where I feel very loved by all the fans and especially by my whole family and all my friends who came to see me.” Sainz told TV reporters.

“When I saw my whole family coming to this race, the car running well and in front of a crowd of fans who love me… I said, ‘I’m going to give it my all.’

“I thought it could be really nice that one of my last victories with Ferrari came at such a special track, with my whole family here. It’s the first time my mother has come to see me win, so I was especially looking forward to it.” .”

The win was also special for the 30-year-old as he started on pole position but had to fight his way back from the back after losing to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on the opening lap.

Sainz regained the lead after a safety car on lap six and dominated the rest of the race to secure his victory at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“(The stage) was extremely emotional. I shed a tear during the Spanish national anthem. It’s definitely one of the best moments of my career,” he said.

“I really wanted to win a race in front of my mother. Plus, as the whole weekend was planned, it was just perfect.

“Losing at the start and then having to fight back with Max only made everything more difficult. It probably tastes even better because I had to work hard for it.”