via Getty
MONTE CARLO, MONACO: Carlos Sainz Jr. of McLaren F1 Team in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
via Getty
MONTE CARLO, MONACO: Carlos Sainz Jr. of McLaren F1 Team in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
With Fernando Alonso returning to the F1 scene, the country of Spain will have two drivers to cheer for, including the now Ferrari man Carlos Sainz. However, the Spanish duo are going to be locked in a super-competitive mid-field battle. As such, there are no real guarantees of winning podiums for either. Nevertheless, former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa hasn’t given up hope of hearing the Spanish national anthem play, post race.
In what is expected to be a four-team battle for the best of the rest, de la Rosa reckons everyone in the midfield will have a good chance of tasting champagne this year at least once. And he was especially optimistic of his countrymen’s chances.
He said (translated via Google), “I think that both Fernando and Carlos will give us more than one joy, more than one podium. And I think Carlos will go up to the drawer before Fernando.”
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via Reuters
Formula One F1. Pre-Season Testing. Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. Alpine’s Fernando Alonso in action during testing REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Sainz certainly seems better placed to bag a podium this season. The new Scuderia driver will drive a much better car this year than what Ferrari gave Sebastian Vettel and Leclerc last year. While on the other hand, despite not having a fast car in the words of Alonso himself, one wouldn’t want to bet against a two-time world champion.
Even though Alpine may be the less favored team to get on the podium amongst the mid-field runners, Daniel Ricciardo had shown everyone in 2020 that it is indeed very possible to do so.
Pedro de la Rosa reckons a lot would have to go wrong for Carlos Sainz if he ends up behind Alonso
via Reuters
Formula One F1. Pre-Season Testing. Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. in action during testing REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
The former McLaren driver believes Sainz would trump Alonso in the battle of the Spaniards. And if he doesn’t manage to do so, de la Rosa reckons only Sainz would be the one to blame for his own demise.
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He said, “If Carlos doesn’t finish the season ahead of Fernando, he has made a mistake again.”
This would be yet another interesting storyline to follow in the upcoming campaign. The battle of the master and his apprentice. It should be great fun watching these two going head to head this year.
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Who do you think will come out on top? Let us know in the comments below.
Also Read: F1 Testing: Fernando Alonso Reacts to Passing Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain
