After Valiant British GP Win, Tennis Icon Rafael Nadal Joins F1 Hero Fernando Alonso Among Others to Welcome Compatriot Carlos Sainz to Elite Group of Victors

Carlos Sainz finally achieved his first win in Formula 1 during his 150th Grand Prix start. The race was chaotic and threw everything at him. But he kept his nerves, steered past his teammate Charles Leclerc after the safety car incident, and fired his Ferrari to a victory.

The boy from Madrid, who has been dreaming for this very moment, sighed a joy of relief after the result. Following an inconsistent start to the season, Sainz is finally back in the championship picture. Moreover, the Spanish national anthem was heard on the F1 podium for the first time since 2013.

The entire world took notice of the British GP, as it was arguably the best race of 2022 so far. Fellow countryman and Tennis legend, Rafael Nadal was a proud Spaniard after witnessing this triumph. He took to Instagram to post a story saying, “Enhorabuena por tu primera gran victoria!!!!!!!” which translates to ‘congratulations on your first big win.’

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Notably, Nadal is currently in the United Kingdom fighting to win his third Wimbledon series. The 22-time Grand Slam winner will play Botic Van de Zandschulp next in the round of 16.

Following Nadal in congratulating Sainz were Former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and current Real Madrid players Thibaut Courtois and Lucas Vazquez. The Moto GP stars Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez also took to Instagram and wished the Spaniard. Furthermore, Fernando Alonso, the last Spanish race winner, joined them in appreciating him.

Carlos Sainz reflects on an incredible evening in the British GP

Sainz secured the pole during Saturday’s dramatic and rain-interrupted qualifying. However, he lost his place to Max Verstappen in lap 1 before Zhou Guanyu’s horrifying crash. Fortune favored him as the grid was assembled back in the qualifying order during the re-start.

Following twists and turns in the race, Sainz overtook his teammate Leclerc on fresher tires after a late safety car incident. The Spaniard ultimately became the 40th Grand Prix winner in the famous red of Ferrari.

After the race, an ecstatic Sainz said, “I don’t know what to say. It’s amazing. I mean, my first win, 150 races later, with Ferrari, in Silverstone, I cannot ask for more. It’s a very special day, a day that I will never forget.”

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The 27-year-old will hope to kick-start his championship hopes after the long-awaited first win. Can Sainz repeat his heroics in Austria next week?