“Carlos Sainz is a potential world champion”

It’s hard to walk two meters with him without being asked for a photo. He is a Ferrari ambassador and a commentator on Sky and DAZN F1. He admits that ever since he appeared on TV in Italy, people have not stopped showering him with their love. “When I arrived at the circuit this Saturday, everyone told me: “Come on! You have to win! So big!. The tifosi are optimistic, of unconditional support”, he highlights. We refer to Marc Gené, who yesterday, between dozens of commitments and his television appearances, wanted to find a place to meet the MD in Ferrari hospitality. “I always dreamed of being an F1 driver (and I did, driving for Minardi and BMW Williams from 1999 to 2004) but I never dreamed of wearing red. It’s something I couldn’t imagine, but it’s really a dream ,” he told this newspaper in a relaxed conversation amid GP at his current family home, Ferrari.

What does being part of Ferrari mean to you?

I always dreamed of becoming an F1 driver (and I did) but I never dreamed of one day wearing red. It’s something I can’t imagine, but it really is a dream. When you enter the world of Ferrari and realize what Ferrari is because of F1, because of the cars they play on the road and then because of everything they have in motor sport … you realize that Ferrari is unique because it is a brand that was born in motorsport and they have many motorsport divisions. For a rider, being here is the best because you keep doing things in competition that other brands can’t offer you.

And it allows you to live like a ferrarista with racing from home, in Monza

Yes. Then someone lives in Monza with the tifosi. It’s something you experience at Monza in a very extreme way, but you experience all over Italy. When I go through Italy, or fly to Bologna, where I usually fly, or when you stop at a gas station… for those who have seen the movie Rush, well, that’s exactly what it is. And now I’m a commentator on Italian television and people know me better. On a daily basis, I live very funny anecdotes. That’s why I say it’s a dream I never imagined. I never thought I would experience the world of F1-Ferrari.

MD was in Maranello a few days ago and we highlight the enormous faith that people have in the team despite the difficult situation that Ferrari is going through with the superiority of Red Bull.

The tifosi are very passionate. It’s clear that social networks are a different world, because there are people who criticize more than praise, but I didn’t see anyone this year who didn’t support the team, really. Here, arriving at the circuit this Saturday, everyone told me: “Come! You have to win! So big!. I always make a comparison with Atlético de Madrid fans, who support them in good times and bad. On the other hand, the Barça or Madrid fan is more critical and pessimistic. The Ferrari, no. He is very optimistic, supportive. We didn’t notice that they didn’t support us. The fan you meet is unconditionally supportive. Brutal.

The win at Monza for Ferrari was very important. Can a win at the Italian GP this Sunday save the season for the team?

Yes, definitely. In fact, in the ‘briefing’ this Saturday morning, we talked about ‘quality’ and Charles (Leclerc) said that he really wants to do well in front of the fans. That means, even in the ‘briefing’, Charles knows the importance of a good result in front of the fans. This year was good because we performed well, but at the same time it was difficult. A win at Monza saves your year, for sure.

Victories at Monza always remain in the memory.

Although there is also Imola, Monza is more the national Grand Prix of the tifosi. This is the home GP, the ‘Temple of Speed’, and we all remember some Ferrari victories at Monza. The most recent now is Charles’s in 2019, but Michael Schumacher has won it many times and Alonso has also succeeded. When you see epic victories for Ferrari, Monza stands out because of the podium. There are pictures of the podium, with the people below with the flag of the enormous Cavallino… these pictures only relate to Monza. Ferrari is passion and so is Monza. This is the GP with the most passion for tifosi. It is from the heart.

How do you see Carlos Sainz at this point in the championship?

The truth is that is good. He had a difficult start, but it was quite similar to last year: he is a rider who is now at a very high level. He drives very well, he has had a very good race, he has scored a lot of points and he is comfortable in the car. At the beginning of the year it was very difficult for him because he did not have confidence in the car and now he is performing at a very high level.

Were you surprised to see him in so many races at Leclerc’s level after a difficult start to the year?

I was surprised last year. Not now. It is a ‘top driver’. This is a super signing by Ferrari. I’m glad they both got it right. Some people said: ‘But how can you leave McLaren doing what you’re doing there?’ And no, no. It was successful, because at Ferrari it was better than at McLaren. Not every driver has the vision to know how to pick teams, and Carlos has it and it’s luck or talent, call him what you will. And besides, he’s a potential world champion, because no one doubts Charles, and Carlos is on Charles’ level. His father told me years ago that he is a ‘super driver’ and indeed, he compares himself to one of the 4 best drivers in the world, which is Charles in this case.

Why does Sainz seem to have more to prove than Leclerc? These days, I hear a lot of fans saying “Charles can be champion”. And why not Carlos?

Carlos too, yes, because he’s at the same level now and last year he was ahead of Leclerc. But hey, this is something that sometimes happens to some pilots. There are drivers with an aura, that everyone says are mega drivers, and others that people have a harder time imagining. Sometimes you have to remember: ‘Hey! That he had more points than Charles last year…”. It’s something he has to fight against, but it’s not a ‘handicap’, because he’s at Ferrari and has nothing to prove. But at the level of public opinion, it is highly appreciated, but sometimes not as much as it should be. And that’s not fair. As with pilots the opposite happens. Carlos has less margin and he always has to show that he is very good, but I don’t know the exact reason.

It is always highlighted that he works hard, but he is also very fast.

Yes, he has a lot of work, but he’s not the father either (laughs). Carlos is very fast in the water. He loves changing track conditions. He also adapts very quickly to new tracks, he is very smart… and he has many things that show you that he is a very smart driver. He is in Ferrari, his future depends on him and people value him.

How would you define Leclerc and Carlos?

Leclerc has more natural talent. He uses a lot of his natural talent, although I think Leclerc has been lucky to work with Vettel and Carlos and he has learned a lot from them, from the approach they have. Carlos has a lot of method and Leclerc this year has made a big step in preparing for the weekend, he is more organized. They look more alike. Leclerc learned from Carlos and shows in the ‘briefings’, that he can handle them better, but even so he is a very intuitive driver, with natural talent.

They are both happy. They have a very good relationship. And sometimes Leclerc makes brilliant overtakes, which is something he doesn’t think about and is purely intuitive. And Carlos, once he’s comfortable in the car, he does them too. Like in France, where Carlos made some incredible overtakes. Leclerc almost always does them and there are times when I think: ‘Now this is overtaking on lap 2? Better to do it last …’. Leclerc is always like this and Carlos does it when he feels comfortable and when he needs to. That is why Carlos is a machine for scoring points, because he makes very few mistakes.

How does Carlos fit into the world of Ferrari?

Wish. From the beginning. With the changes of drivers in other teams last year, he is one of the best adapted, works well and feels comfortable. And he moved to Maranello. I already told you that if you move to Maranello, it is something that many say they will do and few do, and this means that you will end up in the factory a lot. This to the team is greatly appreciated. He is a beloved rider in the team because he is very present and involved.

It is also important for you to have a Spanish here

Yes, I don’t think that after Fernando (Alonso) there will be someone else. This is a plus.

Sainz will be out this Sunday and says his aim is to give the tifosi a show.

I think he will have a chance to do well. And if he’s lucky and there’s a ‘Safety Car’ and the group is tight, so good for him. He is really looking forward to it, he drives loose and he drives very well. Both Carlos and Charles want to give something great to the tifosi.

A dream this Sunday?

Win the race. After our last complicated appointments, the winner here will be… and it will give a lot of peace of mind and a lot of energy. I really want to win here especially with the mechanics and the tifosi. I’m talking about the people who also work in the factory, not just the garage mechanic, so that they can be proud again after a very difficult month. It is a shot of pride, of positive energy for all these people who are always supportive.

The president of Ferrari said that before 2026 Ferrari will win a title. What do you think?

Yes, at least a driver’s or constructor’s degree. It’s possible. I really believed. I sincerely believe that we can win the title in the next few years.