Carlos Sainz celebrated his fourth career win and an emotional final Ferrari triumph at the Mexican Grand Prix, marking Ferrari’s first victory in Mexico since 1990. The win was especially meaningful as Sainz prepares to move to Williams next season, with Ferrari bringing in seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to fill his seat.
“It was an incredible victory and a unique feeling. It had to come here in Mexico, a place where I feel very loved by all the fans, and especially with all my family and friends here,” Sainz told TV reporters. “I thought it would be very special for one of my last wins with Ferrari to be at such a unique circuit. My mum was here to see me win for the first time, so I was particularly looking forward to it.”
Sainz’s victory didn’t come easy. Starting from pole, he initially lost the lead to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the start but fought back, reclaiming first place after a safety car on lap six and holding it through the rest of the race. The Spanish anthem on the podium moved the 30-year-old to tears, making the achievement even more poignant. “Losing at the start and then having to fight back with Max just made everything a bit more tricky,” Sainz said. “Probably makes it taste even better because I had to work hard for it.”
Reflecting on the win, Sainz described the weekend as “perfect,” savoring what could be one of his final Ferrari victories in front of a supportive crowd at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. For the Spanish driver, it was an unforgettable send-off, one that blended his family’s presence with a hard-fought race, marking a career highlight as he looks forward to his new chapter at Williams.
