Sainz Channels Father’s ‘Remember the Hard Days’ Motivation to Find “Best Feeling” of His Life

Father and son duos always have the potential for greatness. More so in motor racing. It’s not only the gene pool, but a bucket-load of learnings and experiences that is passed down the generation. Today, Carlos Sainz made the thousands of Tifosi in attendance proud, as he snatched the pole away from the menacing Max Verstappen at Monza. But more than anything, he made his father, Carlos Sainz Sr. the proudest dad in town!

It was double trouble for the 29-year-old Spanish racing ace at the Temple of Speed today. While he bestowed Ferrari with a much-needed accolade on home turf, he soured the weekend for a team that arguably is the most dominant this sport has ever seen. But to deny the Dutch lion and bring unimaginable joy to the passionate followers of the prancing horse was all down to Sainz’s father’s master plan!

Carlos Sainz puts his father’s wisdom to work as he snatches an iconic pole at Monza

No doubt that it was Sainz Jr. strapped into the SF-23 as the final flying laps of Q3 commenced. It was the Spaniard who crafted every braking point and every apex as he powered onto pole in the Scuderi’s backyard. But this achievement of his was the sum total of a seed his father, a 3x Dakar Rally champ himself, had sown more than a decade ago.

On Sainz’s 29th birthday on the 1st of September, his father posted a touching tribute to his son. On Twitter, he shared a picture of father and son during Jr.’s karting days.

He wrote, “Happy birthday @Carlossainz55 Remember this? Difficult days, but I’m sure that they helped you get to where you are today!! The best part is the tape around the wrists and the turbo visor!!! How it rained!!!”

Surely, Sainz was reminiscing as he crossed the chequered flag to claim pole. Afterward, on his team radio comms, he emotionally relayed, “Best feeling of my life. It cannot get any better than this. I promise I will do everything to try and keep the car there in P1 tomorrow.”

Read More: Enjoying Charles Leclerc’s Miseries, Carlos Sainz Names Best Drive of 2023 Being Meagre 3 Points Ahead of Teammate

It was as if it was written in the stars for this chain of events to unfold. And the Spaniard is counting on them to pull him through for victory tomorrow.

Sainz is dreaming of the impossible

Red Bull has won every single Grand Prix this season. And they don’t seem to be planning on letting that record go away soon. But as a team of mere mortals propelled by the supernatural talents of Max Verstappen, there has to be a chink in their armory, an Achilles’ heel.

Carlos Sainz is hoping for the Italian Grand Prix to be the occasion it is finally exposed. In the aftermath of the session, Sainz was quoted by The Guardian as saying, “I am going to do everything I can to stay in front of Max but they have been quicker in every race this year so it will not be easy. But something could happen. We could have a particularly good day and get the win.”

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Can Carlos Sainz repeat his heroics of Quali day to seal an iconic win for the Scuderia on home turf on race day?