Carlos Sainz Jr.

Carlos Sainz Jr.
Born	Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro (1994-09-01) September 1, 1994 Madrid, Spain
Occupation	Racing driver
Years active	2015–present
Known for	Formula One racing driver, multiple Grand Prix victories

Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro (; born 1 September 1994) is a professional Spanish racing driver currently competing in Formula One with Williams. Over an 11-season career, Sainz has earned multiple Grand Prix victories.

Hailing from Madrid, he is the son of two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz. After advancing through karting and various junior single-seater categories, Sainz claimed the Formula Renault NEC title in 2011 racing for Koiranen, while also finishing as runner-up in that year's Eurocup. In 2012, he competed in both British and European Formula 3 championships with Carlin. Progressing to the GP3 Series in 2013 with Arden, he ended his rookie season tenth overall. The following year, he secured the Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship driving for DAMS.

Having been part of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2010, Sainz made his Formula One debut at Toro Rosso in , partnering Max Verstappen. Midway through 2017, he moved to Renault, initially on loan before a full-time switch. In , he joined McLaren, severing ties with Red Bull, and achieved his first F1 podium at the Grand Prix, followed by another at the GP. For , Sainz signed with Ferrari, replacing Sebastian Vettel alongside Charles Leclerc. His breakthrough season came in , highlighted by his first pole position and victory at the GP. Subsequent wins came at Singapore (2023), Australia, and Mexico City (2024). After being replaced by Lewis Hamilton for , he signed with Williams to race alongside Alexander Albon.

As of the , Sainz has accumulated wins, pole positions, fastest laps, and podium finishes. His contract with Williams extends through at least the conclusion of 2026.

Early life

Born on 1 September 1994 in Madrid, Spain, Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro is the son of rally legend Carlos Sainz, a two-time World Rally Champion boasting 26 rally wins. Throughout his journey to Formula One, Sainz Jr. received guidance from his father.

In recognition of his connection to late racer María de Villota, whom he was coached by at a Madrid driving school, Sainz was appointed Ambassador of her legacy in 2016. Since 2014, he has honored her memory by featuring a star on his helmet.

Karting

Sainz began karting activities in 2006. By 2008, he had won the Asia-Pacific KF3 championship and finished second in Spain’s national championship. The following year, he triumphed at the Junior Monaco Kart Cup and secured runner-up in the European KF3 Championship.

Formula BMW

In 2010, Sainz competed in Formula BMW Europe representing the EuroInternational squad while also participating as a guest driver in Formula BMW Pacific at Sepang, where he finished second and later won one race across nine starts. His campaign included three pole positions, two wins, and two fastest laps.

During the Formula BMW Europe season, he achieved several podiums including a victory at Silverstone and ended fourth overall with 227 points. Additionally, he took part in one race of the UK Formula Renault Winter Cup finishing sixth.

Formula Three

In 2012, Sainz raced simultaneously in British and European Formula 3 series for Carlin. In British F3, he recorded four wins, nine podiums, and one pole position to finish sixth overall. In the European championship, he secured two podiums and two poles, concluding ninth in the standings.

GP3 Series

Sainz joined Arden International for the GP3 Series in 2013. Despite qualifying fifth initially, a ten-place grid penalty was imposed for ignoring yellow flags during practice. He managed to progress to eighth place in race one alongside teammate Daniil Kvyat; however both struggled with tyre grip issues resulting in lower finishes.

Starting race two from fifteenth position, Sainz climbed to seventh before a safety car period helped conserve tyres. Nevertheless, disqualification followed due to an underweight car after the race left him without points. Kvyat retired after contact incidents.

At Valencia, Sainz finished eighth in race one and achieved his first GP3 podium by placing third in race two. By accumulating four fastest lap points among his total of 24 championship points so far, he moved up to sixth overall.

At Silverstone's opening race, contact forced him off track early which dropped him to ninth; later collisions caused further setbacks resulting in a thirteenth-place finish due to car damage. He maintained thirteenth place during race two.

Formula Renault 3.5

Sainz made his initial appearance in the Formula Renault 3.5 series during 2013 but missed several events likely due to commitments within GP3. Highlights included sixth place at Monaco and seventh at Hungary despite multiple retirements and absences throughout that year.

For the 2014 season, he switched to driving for DAMS, showing marked improvement by winning races at Monza, Aragon, Spa (twice), Nürburgring, and France while consistently scoring points. This performance extended his championship lead over rival Roberto Merhi and established him as a leading contender.

Formula One career

Sainz became part of the Red Bull Junior Team program beginning in 2010. His first exposure to Formula One machinery occurred during the Silverstone Young Driver Test of 2013 where he drove both the Toro Rosso STR8 and Red Bull RB9 cars. Although negotiations took place with Caterham for a potential race seat in 2014, no agreement was reached. After securing the Formula Renault 3.5 title in late 2014, he tested the Red Bull RB10 during post-season testing following that year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

2015

Sainz joined Scuderia Toro Rosso for the Template:F1 season as Max Verstappen’s teammate after Daniil Kvyat’s promotion to Red Bull Racing. Selecting car number 55, he qualified within the top ten on debut at the Template:F1 GP Grand Prix and finished ninth. He scored points again at Malaysia but retired from Bahrain due to wheel issues and failed to score points at China. His best grid position that year was fifth at Spain where he finished ninth. After missing the weighbridge during Monaco qualifying leading to a pit lane start, he recovered to finish tenth.

He suffered four successive retirements caused by electrical failures (Austria and Britain), fuel pressure problems (Hungary), and power unit failure (Belgium). A severe crash during Russian Grand Prix practice resulted in hospitalization overnight; declared fit afterward, he raced but retired due to brake failure. After crashing during United States qualifying starting last on grid, he impressively gained ten places on lap one finishing seventh—the highest result of his rookie season. He concluded the year fifteenth overall with eighteen points compared to Verstappen’s forty-nine.

2016

Toro Rosso retained both Sainz and Verstappen for Template:F1. He qualified seventh and finished ninth at Australia’s season opener but retired from Bahrain following contact with Sergio Pérez. Following Verstappen’s promotion post-Russian GP and replacement by Daniil Kvyat as teammate, Sainz scored points consistently including a career-best sixth place finish at Spain and an impressive recovery from twentieth to ninth at Canada.

After retiring from suspension damage at Europe GP, he recorded three consecutive eighth-place finishes before enduring a six-race stretch without points including retirement from puncture damage (Belgium) and first-lap collision (Singapore) despite starting sixth there. He matched his best sixth place finishes again at United States and Brazil despite starting fifteenth for latter event but retired from Abu Dhabi after colliding with Jolyon Palmer. He ended twelfth overall with forty-six points out of Toro Rosso’s sixty-three total.

2017

Continuing alongside Kvyat for Template:F1, Sainz scored points early but was eliminated after collision with Lance Stroll in Bahrain causing grid penalty for Russia where he finished eighth after avoiding incidents including teammate Kvyat’s spin earlier that race.

Prior to Austrian GP weekend suggested departure from Toro Rosso was likely; however Christian Horner confirmed retention for next season. Retirements followed due to engine failure (Austria) and first lap collision (Britain). Before Singapore GP it was announced Sainz would join Renault on loan from Red Bull for Template:F1 season full-time; there he achieved fourth place—his career-best result up to that point.

Pierre Gasly replaced Kvyat mid-season; Sainz retired due to engine failure at Malaysia then crashed during practice sessions including Japan’s opening lap incident by season end having scored majority of Toro Rosso’s points tally (48 out of 52).

Late-2017

Sainz joined Renault ahead of final four races replacing Jolyon Palmer alongside Nico Hülkenberg. Debuting at United States GP finishing seventh after starting seventh as well; spun out then retired due to steering issues at Mexico; ended season early following pit stop error causing loose wheel at Abu Dhabi finishing ninth overall with fifty-four points.

2018

Throughout Template:F1, Sainz consistently qualified inside top ten across opening eight rounds scoring points except once including fifth place finish capitalizing on Red Bull collision in Azerbaijan. Criticized Renault tyre strategy after disappointing tenth place Monaco result; technical failures such as MGU-K malfunction (France) and battery problems (Mexico), plus incidents like British GP crash and safety car penalty (Germany) hampered performance.

He scored points five times over next seven races highlighted by strong qualifying fifth place Hungary but suffered first-lap collision Russia plus battery failure Mexico leading to low results before closing season strongly recovering from eleventh to sixth at Abu Dhabi finale ending tenth overall with fifty-three points behind teammate Hülkenberg’s sixty-nine despite scoring points thirteen times from nineteen finishes.

Renault replaced him with Daniel Ricciardo for Template:F1 while retaining Hülkenberg.

2019: First Podium

Sainz joined McLaren replacing Fernando Alonso partnering rookie Lando Norris for Template:F1 season. Despite mechanical issues and collisions preventing points early on across first three races, he consistently scored thereafter often outperforming all but Mercedes/Ferrari/Red Bull drivers including notable drives climbing from nineteenth to eighth Austria and fifth Germany despite spins.

Mechanical failures caused retirements Belgium and Italy; collision plus lengthy pit stop Singapore left him outside points range until Brazil where starting last due to engine problems he advanced steadily finishing fifth then upgraded post-race due competitor penalty securing maiden F1 podium plus McLaren's first since . Ended year sixth overall scoring ninety-six points surpassing Norris’s forty-nine despite rookie status.

2020

Retained by McLaren alongside Norris for Template:F1, started strong finishing fifth Austria; qualified third Styrian achieving personal best qualifying then setting new Red Bull Ring lap record despite slow pit stop dropping him back; suffered tyre puncture British Grand Prix losing positions finishing thirteenth; similar slow pit stop setback under safety car during Anniversary GP relegated him again finishing thirteenth. Sixth home Spanish GP finish followed but missed Belgian GP due power unit failure.

Qualified third Italy behind Mercedes drivers; despite losing places during pit stops plus red flag interruptions gained positions late finishing second behind Pierre Gasly securing second career podium best finish yet. Retired Tuscan & Russian GPs following incidents then scored seven straight point finishes including sixth Portuguese after leading laps briefly; penalized qualifying Turkey started fifteenth recovered fifth. Brake failure Bahrain led poor qualifying fifteenth but finished fifth.

Finished sixth Drivers' Championship again scoring one hundred five points beating Norris ninety-seven; achieved six top-five finishes both career highs.

2021

Starting Template:F1, Sainz signed a two-year deal joining Ferrari replacing Sebastian Vettel alongside Charles Leclerc. Debuted Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying & finishing eighth; advanced from eleventh start Emilia Romagna GP ending fifth despite strategic errors costing potential points Portuguese GP despite starting fifth failed scoring there too.

Achieved third career podium first with Ferrari Monaco GP finishing second benefiting from Leclerc's non-start & Bottas pit issue; tyre wear troubles prevented Ferrari scoring French GP.

Recovered twelfth start Styrian GP finishing sixth; collided George Russell sprint qualifying British GP dropping him back but recovered sixth race finish; crashed Hungarian qualifying started fifteenth finished fourth promoted third post-Vettel disqualification marking fourth career podium.

Recorded best second qualifying Russian GP led early race finished third; penalized engine component Turkish GP started last recovered eighth; earned fourth podium Abu Dhabi criticized restart behind lapped cars nearly cost podium spot.

Ended season fifth overall Drivers' Championship scoring one hundred sixty-four point five beating teammate Leclerc by five point five praised widely for quick adaptation & consistent performance relative to Leclerc.

2022: First Pole & Win

Continuing partnership with Leclerc for Template:F1, qualified third Bahrain Grand Prix moving up second after Verstappen retirement securing Ferrari one-two finish leading Constructors' Championship early season.

Qualifying error plus red flag Australian GP led ninth place start spun out lap two; crashes qualifying Emilia Romagna & collision Azerbaijan ended races prematurely; best home Spanish GP result fourth recovering from spin earlier laps.

Qualified & finished second Monaco retired hydraulics failure Azerbaijan runner-up Canadian GP less than second behind Verstappen.

Celebrated milestone one hundred fiftieth F1 start British GP earning maiden pole position narrowly ahead Verstappen on wet track though overtaken early regained lead after Verstappen damage pitted late soft tyres passed Leclerc claiming maiden victory F1 career.

Engine failure Austria started last France due engine penalties finished fifth despite time penalty secured second pole Belgium finished third behind Red Bulls penalized unsafe pit release Dutch GP dropped from fifth to eighth recovered eighteenth Italy finishing fourth crash Japan ended race early secured third pole United States retired first corner collision Russell matched previous year's Drivers' Championship fifth scoring two hundred forty-six points behind Leclerc's three hundred eight extending contract through twenty twenty-four.

2023

Commenced Template:F1 season with fourth places Bahrain & Australia though penalised demoted twelfth Australia for Alonso contact deemed harsh by both parties Ferrari appeal dismissed qualified third Miami finished fifth practice crash Monaco followed by race spin dropped from fourth to eighth home Spanish GP qualified second finished fifth citing tyre degradation weakness car setup issues.

Crashed Canadian practice received grid penalty impeding started eleventh recovered fifth strategic mistakes under safety car Britain cost positions finishing tenth qualified eleventh Hungary after practice crash scored eighth race finish fourth Belgian sprint retired main race first lap collision.

Achieved first pole Italy narrowly ahead Verstappen finished third defending against teammate Leclerc secured another pole Singapore converted into second career victory ending Red Bull fifteen-race win streak holding off challenges Norris Mercedes drivers Qatar scored sprint points withdrew main race fuel leak United States promoted podium after Hamilton disqualified qualified second Mexico City front row alongside Leclerc overtaken Verstappen Hamilton during race Las Vegas hit loose manhole cover practice delaying session qualified second behind Leclerc but component changes incurred ten-place grid penalty described unacceptable team principal Frédéric Vasseur finished sixth Abu Dhabi crashed practice qualified sixteenth amid accusations rivals impeding Ferrari kept him out hoping safety car no point chance retired car dropping championship standing fourth to seventh ending season seven hundred ninety-four point total compared teammate Leclerc's two hundred six

2024

Strong start Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying fourth finishing third ahead teammate Leclerc missed most Saudi Arabian weekend sessions appendicitis surgery replaced reserve driver Oliver Bearman returned Australian Grand Prix qualified second capitalizing Verstappen retirement winning securing third F1 victory Ferrari's first one-two since twenty twenty-two Bahrain earned another podium Japanese Grand Prix passing Leclerc finishing third

After three races without podium placed third Monaco marking fourth podium season retired Canadian Grand Prix spinning into Alex Albon placed sixth home Spanish Grand Prix rebounded third Austrian benefiting collision between Verstappen Norris next three races included fifth British sixth Hungarian & Belgian summer break ranked fifth championship one hundred sixty-two points

Secured second United States won pole Mexico City crashed rain-affected São Paulo additional results included third Las Vegas sixth Qatar final round Abu Dhabi podium finish clinching career-best five hundred ninety point total

Departed Ferrari twenty twenty-four replaced Lewis Hamilton twenty twenty-five Ferrari honored him gifting winning chassis F1-75 from twenty twenty-two as farewell tribute

Williams (2025–present)

Following replacement by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari signed two-year contract joining Williams Racing beginning Template:F1 partnering Alexander Albon.<ref>Crashing first lap rain-affected Australian Grand Prix under safety car conditions.<ref> China sprint seventeenth main race tenth after other drivers disqualified.<ref> Finished outside points Japanese Grand Prix receiving grid penalty impeding Hamilton qualifying fined €20k missing national anthem due illness.<ref> Started eighth Bahrain engaged close battles Tsunoda Antonelli sustaining sidepod damage receiving penalty forcing Antonelli off-track.<ref> Achieved best result Saudi Arabian qualifying sixth finishing eighth.<ref>

Other ventures

In February twenty twenty-five appointed director of Grand Prix Drivers' Association succeeding Sebastian Vettel post-retirement role includes representing drivers’ concerns regarding safety racing standards junior driver development liaising with full-time staff

Co-founded Boogie Burger hamburger restaurant Madrid launched June twenty twenty-three alongside partners

Personal life

Previously dated Spanish Isabel Hernáez between twenty seventeen and twenty twenty-three currently involved with Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson as of twenty twenty-four

Maintains residences Madrid London Monaco In twenty twenty-three robbed high-value watch Milan successfully apprehended thief

Owns collection featuring multiple Ferraris including F8 Tributo812 Competizione Daytona SP3

Karting career summary

Season	Series	Team	Position
2006	Torneo Industrie — Minikart		3rd
	Copa de Campeones — Cadet		2nd
2007	Spanish Championship — KF3		11th
	Torneo Industrie — KF3		12th
	Copa de Campeones — KF3		6th
	CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship — KF3		3rd
2008	South Garda Winter Cup — KF3		NC
	Trofeo Andrea Margutti — KF3		7th
	CIK-FIA European Championship — KF3		NC
	WSK International Series — KF3		16th
	Monaco Kart Cup — KF3	Genikart-LTP	12th
	CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship — KF3		1st

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