“What Is Carlos Smoking?”: Citing 1 Key Factor, F1 Veteran Busts Myths Around Sainz’s ‘Sudden’ Spur of Brilliance

Rewind to the beginning of the 2023 season. Ferrari was the third-fastest car on the grid at best. At certain points in the season, it was miles away from Mercedes and Aston Martin as well, let alone Red Bull. Considering that, who would’ve thought the Scuderia would be the first team to end Red Bull’s record-breaking streak? That’s the thing. While everyone expected Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso to spoil Red Bull’s party, Carlos Sainz never stopped believing he’d be the one. At the Singapore GP, he made it happen.

Last weekend, when F1 returned to the Marina Bay Circuit, Sainz knew Ferrari had a good chance of doing well, especially after its improvements in Monza. With Red Bull on the back foot for the first time in a long time, Sainz made the most of the opportunity and gave the Tifosi yet another highlight for 2023. It’s almost as if the Spaniard has been a new driver since the summer break ended.

What has changed for Carlos Sainz since the summer break?

Sainz has always been a talented driver. He’s one of those drivers who rarely makes mistakes and can deliver consistent performances every time he steps into the car. Apart from his apparent driving skills, he’s also a tactical thinker. The Singapore GP was proof of that. But his stellar performance wasn’t just limited to Singapore. Even in the two other races after the summer break—the Dutch and the Italian GP—it was like he’d unlocked a new and improved version of himself. 

On the F1 Nation Podcast, host Tom Clarkson and former driver Pedro de la Rosa discussed this upturn in form. Clarkson said, “What is Carlos Sainz smoking at the minute? Because he’s come back from the summer break a changed man. He’s found the connection with his engineers in that car that wasn’t there before the break.” As much as Ferrari’s upgrades and this newfound connection with his engineers have helped, de la Rosa believes there’s more to it. “I think that we should not just believe that he’s a different person from the holidays,” said de la Rosa.

Read More: “Carlos Was Very Generous”: Bromance Revives as Norris Credits Singapore Success to Old Mate Sainz

“I think before the shutdown, Carlos was driving already very well, very strongly if you compare him to Charles [Leclerc]. Carlos was already very competitive back then. Now that Ferrari has made the car faster, he has kept the momentum.” Sainz has basically been doing what he always has been: staying consistent. While this strategy seems to be working for him in the long run, it’s also what helped him achieve his second career win.

Carlos Sainz’s Marina Bay heroics

After a mega performance in qualifying to secure pole position, Sainz knew Mercedes’ George Russell would be his main competitor. Why? Because the Mercedes garage decided to save an extra set of the preferred medium tires for the race. With Mercedes’ strategic advantage, Sainz had to give himself a tactical advantage to win. That involved staying consistent with his strategy throughout the race. Right from Turn 1 on the first lap, the Spaniard knew he had to slow down the pace and keep the pack together. This ensured Russell wouldn’t find a window to make an extra stop for the new mediums.

A late VSC did give Russell that opportunity, though. But Sainz didn’t waver. With Lando Norris behind him and Russell and Hamilton on a charge for the win, Sainz ensured he kept Norris within DRS range. Why? So that the Mercs couldn’t overtake Norris and swoop past Sainz, too. It all worked out in the end, with Sainz calling his drive his “smoothest operation in Ferrari.” In the post-race interview, Norris said, “Carlos was very generous, trying to help me get DRS. It helped my race and helped his.”

Watch This Story: What has become an Incessant Problem for Charles Leclerc & Carlos Sainz in Ferrari’s F1 Challenger? 

Do you think Carlos Sainz has improved after the summer break? Or is his ever-present consistency just shining through more now because of Ferrari’s upgrades?