Carlos Sainz and Popeye. What do they have in common? In just a matter of time, they can go from being the underdog to leaving people in dust. That’s what Popeye can do every time he’s in a sticky situation. And that is precisely what Carlos Sainz seems to have done after the summer break. Going into the break, there were two things almost universally accepted about the 2023 Formula 1 season. One, Red Bull could win every race this year. And two, Charles Leclerc has the upper hand in Ferrari. In just a matter of two races, Sainz proved both of those beliefs wrong.

The Spaniard has returned from the break a changed driver. There’s no questioning it (apart from people asking Sainz what he did to bring about that change). While he says there’s nothing different about him, an F1 veteran seems to think ‘Popeye: The Sailor Man’ had something to do with the Smooth Operator’s recent smooth operations.

Carlos Sainz had a Popeye-like transformation during the summer break

Here’s how the first three races of the second half of 2023 have gone so far for Sainz. At the Dutch GP—where Ferrari introduced upgrades to the SF-23—Sainz qualified sixth against the odds. Ferrari shouldn’t have done too well there, and Charles Leclerc was visibly struggling. But on Sunday, Sainz did one better and finished fifth. In Monza—Ferrari’s home race—Sainz got pole position and finished in P3 ahead of his teammate. In Singapore—where Red Bull struggled—Sainz took full advantage, qualified on pole, and won the race, ending Red Bull’s record-breaking win streak. 

Seeing this form, F1 Nation host Tom Clarkson asked, “What is Carlos Sainz smoking at the minute? Because he’s come back from the summer break a changed man.” Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard gave his take on the Formula For Success Podcast. He said, “It’s like Carlos Sainz has come out having eaten Popeye’s spinach over the summer break. He’s been really up for it the last couple of races.” To answer Clarkson’s question, much like Popeye inhaled spinach through his pipe to suddenly have superhuman powers, that’s what Sainz seems to have done per Coulthard.

When Popeye needed to get ready for a fight, he’d open a can of spinach, gobble it down, and become superhuman. Going into the summer break, Sainz knew he’d have to buck up for the challenge that is the rest of 2023. While Popeye’s seemingly hopeless situation was saving Olive Oyl more often than not, Sainz’s seemingly hopeless situation must’ve been overcoming Leclerc and Red Bull. And he’s done both. Popeye’s spinach had the power to turn him into a human rocket ship. Coulthard might’ve said what he did for fun, but Sainz does seem to have become a rocket ship. Or at least he has the ability to turn the SF-23 into one.

Read More: “He Has All It Takes to Become World Champion”: Carlos Sainz New Ferrari Favorite as Error-Prone Charles Leclerc Continues to Falter

While Sainz’s newfound form has been attributed to Popeye’s post-spinach form, his driving prowess has been attributed to someone who isn’t fictional.

How did Sainz become the driver he is today?

When you think about Carlos Sainz’s driving style, more often than not, people will call it refined and clean but also aggressive. He can be a respectful yet hard racer. And who can forget his racing IQ? If you need reminding, tune into the last few laps of the Singapore GP to watch Sainz and Lando Norris team up to fight against the fast-approaching Mercs of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Had it not been for Sainz’s genius, the Singapore win could’ve very well gone to someone else. But where did he get this racing pedigree from, something he’s had since he was a kid?

If you think Sainz wasn’t always meant to be a driver, watch him drifting in his backyard as a toddler in his toy car. If you are wondering where he got that expertise from, it was from Carlos Sainz Sr. Sainz’s father, who also a World Rally Champion. He has always been an inspiration to Carlos Jr.

F1 journalist Peter Windsor talked about Carlos Sr. “Senior is the ultimate competitor. He’s super aggressive, but at the same time, he’s got this maturity and this ability to think of the last lap on the first lap. It’s not for nothing that they’re still a very closely knit family in Madrid, and I think that says a lot, too,” he said. No wonder Carlos Jr. emulates so many of his qualities on track.

Have you seen a Popeye-esque change in Carlos Sainz after the summer break?

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