It is not easy to be able to emerge in the world of motors, especially if your dream is to race.
Whether on the track, in rallies or in other categories, being able to become champions is really complicated.
Being able to do it and then see your child repeat the same steps is almost impossible.
But this is what happened to the "dynasty" Carlos Sainz.
Carlos Sainz Senior is one of the most successful rally drivers in the history of the sport, while his son, Carlos Junior, is in his fifth year in F1, preparing to move to Ferrari for 2021.
How do you live in such a motorsport-oriented family? What are each other's hopes for the future of their respective careers?
The Turin-based company Sparco, historical partner of Carlos Sainz Sr., ha interviewed both exclusively. Let's see what they told in their double interview!
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Who is Carlos Sainz Senior?
Let us first try to understand what is special about the Sainz.
We obviously start from Carlos Sainz Sr.
The driver from Madrid born in '62 is a true rally legend.
From his debut in 1987 until his retirement in 2005 he managed to always remain at the top of the charts and maintain an incredible consistency.
Sainz Sr. it is in fact the driver with the most rallies disputed of the history of this sport, and capable of being for 11 seasons in the first 3 places of the WRC Championship, the World Rally.
"The matador" not only has he been able to maintain a very high level for many years, but he has also been able to adapt his driving style to many different cars and manufacturers.
Unlike more titled rivals, Sainz raced with manufacturers such as Ford, Subaru, Lancia and Citroen, passing from the legendary Delta Integrale to the modern WRC.
However, its name is inextricably linked with Toyota, constructor with which it has won his two world championships, in 1990 and 1992, behind the wheel of the beautiful Celica GT-Four.
He also came close to winning the world championship in 1998, at the wheel of the brand new Toyota Corolla WRC.
Arriving at the final stage in Great Britain, rival Tommi Mäkinen crashed in the early stages of the rally.
Sainz only needed to hold her position to win the title, but with just 300m to go her Corolla WRC decided it was too much for her. Broken engine and broken dreams.
After retiring from rallies in 2005, Carlos Sainz Senior has remained one of the most loved rally drivers around the world.
And he hasn't stopped running. Indeed, it still continues today.
In fact, since 2006 he has started a brilliant career in rally raids, real “rally-marathons” with very long stages and impossible terrains, with the Paris-Dakar (today Rally Dakar) as the highest point of the sport.
In this discipline the Matador was able to win the Dakar 3 times: in 2010 with Volkswagen, in 2018 with Peugeot and in 2020 with MINI.
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… And who is Carlos Sainz Jr. instead?
From such a winning and beloved father in the rallying world, his children are expected to have followed in his footsteps.
Well, yes, but not quite in the same direction.
Yes, because if the young Carlos Sr. tried his career on the circuit and then immediately moved on to rallies, the transition never happened for his son, Carlos Sainz Jr.
"Chile", As it is nicknamed, in fact, he has always preferred the track to the dirt road of rallies.
From the very beginning of his karting career as a child he has always had the dream of competing in Formula 1.
Slowly, then, having entered the "Red Bull family", Carlos Jr. made his way into the minor categories up to the Formula 1 in 2015, debuting with the Toro Rosso.
From 2015 to 2018 Carlos fulfilled his first dream, that of racing against his great idol Fernando Alonso, driving for Toro Rosso until 2017 and with Renault for the last 3 races of 2017 and all of 2018.
The turning point in young Sainz's career came last year.
As in the best of screenplays, in fact, the young Spaniard replaced the two-time World Champion, and Madrid's idol, Fernando Alonso in McLaren.
He then managed to get gods with the English team incredible results, hoisting as "first of the others“, That is the best driver out of the 3 strongest teams (Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull).
Al 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, then, he managed to get hers first podium, arriving third (fourth on the track but promoted to third place after a penalty imposed on Lewis Hamilton) after an incredible race that saw him start 20th and last and share the podium with his former teammate in Toro Rosso Verstappen and with another neophyte of the podium, the Frenchman Pierre Gasly.
After a memorable season, a few weeks ago it was announced his move to Ferrari from 2021, where he will team up with the Monegasque Charles Leclerc on the single-seater from Maranello.
Carlos Sainz Jr .: "I decided at 9: I wanted to be the new Spaniard in F1"
Interviewed by Sparco, an Italian company that has accompanied Carlos Sr.'s career for over 20 years and that has been a supplier of McLaren racing suits, gloves and racing apparel for two decades, the two Sainz tell each other.
Asked why he didn't follow in the footsteps of his namesake father, young Carlos said he made up his mind relatively early.
“My passion for Formula 1 was born together with that for cars, having lived among them since I was two years old. From the age of five I started racing karts. "
“However, it was when I was nine, during a Grand Prix, that I definitely fell in love with Formula 1. At the age of ten I decided I wanted one of the best Spanish drivers after Alonso and De La Rosa (both Formula 1 drivers at the time) “.
Sainz Jr also recounted his time with McLaren so far.
"2019 was probably the best year of my Formula 1 career. Despite the strong responsibility linked to having taken the place of Alonso, I immediately felt at home, thanks to the positive working environment and the good relationship with Lando Norris. "
Carlos Sainz Sr .: "He corrected in rallies I would recommend him more, now I'm his first fan"
Sainz Sr instead claims to be very proud of the son, having chosen a difficult path like that of Formula 1.
"If he had chosen the rally I could have helped him more. Now I try to help him when I can, but he is now an adult and I am just a his special fan: I support him and advise him if he has any doubts ".
The Matador, then, remembers with great pleasure his great past in the world Rally in his golden age.
“I remember with emotion and pleasure the challenges with Miki Biasion, Didier Auriol, Juha Kankkunen and with my dear friend Colin McRae".
Just to the Italian two world champion with Lancia Delta Integrale, Sparco has dedicated a line of Heritage Martini Racing 2020 products, which mimics the Delta Integrale with Martini livery.
There are many very interesting products, from driving gloves to the office / gaming chair, passing from an exact replica of the Martini Racing suit used in those years, and all these products can be purchased on the Sparco site.
Then reviewing the cars he raced with, his favorites are "the Subaru Impreza, the Ford Escort and Focus and above all" mine " Toyota Celica GT-Four, with which I won my two World Championships ”.
There is also room to talk about Dakar Rally, of cars and races, of preparation and of the necessary physical and technical tests. Always bearing in mind that, even with the help of the co-driver, when you drive you are practically "blind".
Unlike Formula 1, where precision is essential and knowing the circuit perfectly, in the rally there is more improvisation. But, he concludes, "despite the differences, the philosophy is the same".
“A day against the Dakar? Now F1, who knows tomorrow ... "
Their interview reveals a very normal father-son relationship, characterized by the very competitive personality of both.
Although the more time passes the more difficult it becomes to keep up with his son ("He is better on the circuits"), there are still a couple of sports in which Sainz Sr. manages to beat him, such as golf and squash (of which the father was champion).
"It's not easy to get close to his level at squash, let alone beat him!" concludes the young Spaniard.
The interview ends with a very interesting question, namely if there was chance to see a father-son challenge at the Dakar.
The new Ferrari driver obviously stated that he was focused first on the 2020 season with McLaren and then on 2021 with the Cavallino. Faced with a possible challenge in the coming years against his father, however, Carlos Jr. has not closed his doors. "Today I am concentrated and focused on Formula 1, but one day, who knows ...".
From this double interview, the love for motorsport and the mutual support of two true champions shines through.
United by a single passion, exploited by taking different paths, the two Sainz have carried their name and the Spanish flag high for several years.
For those interested in reviewing the entire interview held by Sparco with the two Madrid champions, you can find it in its entirety below.
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