A few days after Max Verstappen was crowned world champion for the fourth consecutive time, Carlos Sainz wanted to have his say on the Dutchman and former teammate, emphasizing an often debated aspect: the impact of the car in the fight for the title. Speaking to Motorsportweek, the Spanish driver highlighted how, in the second half of the championship, the technical balance between the teams has shown that, in equal conditions, Verstappen is far from unbeatable.
A season that has leveled the values
“The second half of the season, with eight riders within a tenth of each other, showed that all of us could beat him week in and week out,” Sainz said. After a season dominated by Verstappen and Red Bull, 2024 saw a decline in the performance of the RB20. This allowed Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes to close the gap and bring more unpredictability to the track.
Despite this, Verstappen managed to handle difficult situations, proving himself to be an exceptional driver: “Max was extremely good at dominating with a dominant car and equally good at not making mistakes in the second half of the season.. This is what allowed him to win the championship and to be, for me, the driver of the year,” added Sainz.
Pressure makes everyone human
According to Sainz, pressure plays a key role in separating the best from the greats: “Everyone starts to make mistakes when they are under pressure. When you don’t have those two or three tenths of a margin over your competition or your teammate, suddenly everything becomes complicated. And we are all human,” the Ferrari driver stressed.
The season has seen Verstappen face moments of tension, as demonstrated by his frequent complaints on the radio in the most difficult moments. This, for Sainz, is a sign that even the Dutch champion, despite his apparent invincibility, is vulnerable when forced to fight on equal terms.
A 2024 that opens up new scenarios
The 2024 season has been a turning point for Formula 1. After years of almost unchallenged domination by Mercedes and Red Bull, the return of Ferrari and McLaren to the top positions has brought back a balance that had been missing for some time. Seven Winners several and a close fight in every race have shown that, with such a compact grid, no one can afford to let their guard down, not even Verstappen.
Sainz, who has achieved significant victories throughout the year, said he is convinced that this balance could be the prelude to even more competitive seasons: “When we are all in similar conditions, we can turn against each other and make life difficult for ourselves.”
The challenge for 2025 has already been launched, even if Sainz might not be in the game, considering that in 2025 he will be driving a Williams, and no longer a Ferrari.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
