Carlos Sainz explained the difference between the top two races in his Formula One career after the end of the 2023 season.
The Spaniard managed to qualify on the pole, lead the race, and showed a strategic masterclass at the end of the race in collaboration with
Lando Norris to secure his second career victory. He told
DAZN:
"If I had to define this season with a single word, I would say Singapore (laughs). The truth is that I was going very fast, even without perfect laps. Taking full advantage of my potential."
Many people doubted Sainz as a worthy teammate to
Charles Leclerc, who is
currently considered possibly the fastest driver on the grid, but in Singapore, the 29-year-old proved them wrong.
"And I knew that for the last lap of Q3, Going as fast as I was, I could take pole position. And then in the race, everything went perfectly and that gives you happiness, a satisfaction with yourself, which very few things give you."
Sainz has shown some incredible performances throughout his career even when he was driving for
McLaren, but he said he has never been happier with a race weekend.
"And like Singapore I have never felt more fulfilled , happier with the performance of a weekend."
Carlos Sainz has won two races so far in his career. The 2022
British Grand Prix was his first-ever F1 victory, and 2022 Singapore was the second. He explained the difference:
"The Silverstone victory in 2022 is more emotional, that you fulfill a dream which is to win. The Singapore victory in 2023 is more like the satisfaction of having done everything perfect."
"In Singapore, the opportunity arose, and we took advantage of it. We did not fail. And that makes me proud of myself and also of the team. Knowing that when there have been opportunities, we have taken advantage of them."