Carlos Sainz’s third-place finish at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix marked a sweet moment of redemption after the Spaniard endured one of the most bizarre and frustrating weekends in the event’s inaugural edition a year earlier. Back in 2023, a loose manhole cover wreaked havoc on his Ferrari, punching a hole through the floor and forcing extensive repairs that led to a 10-place grid penalty.
This year, however, Sainz managed to steer clear of misfortune and even joked about his newfound caution:
“I was looking at every manhole during that race, avoiding them this time,” he quipped after the podium celebrations.
A Podium Finish Amid Ferrari’s Missteps
Sainz’s third-place finish, while impressive, came despite strategic blunders by Ferrari. The team’s radio miscommunications resulted in Sainz staying out one lap too long on the medium tyres and two laps too late on the hards.
Reflecting on the situation, Sainz admitted Ferrari fell short:
“It just shows that in this sport, you need to do things perfectly week in, week out. We’ve been doing things really well in strategy and on race management all year around, but today wasn’t our day.”
Teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth, shared Sainz’s frustration. The Monegasque unleashed an expletive-filled tirade over team radio, clearly upset about strategy calls that cost him a shot at the podium.
Focus Shifts to Ferrari’s Constructors’ Fight
Ferrari managed to close the gap to Constructors’ Championship leaders McLaren to 24 points, leaving the door slightly ajar with two races and a sprint remaining. However, with Mercedes’ George Russell and Lewis Hamilton delivering a dominant one-two finish in Las Vegas, Ferrari’s task remains uphill.
Sainz, looking ahead to the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, expressed determination to bounce back:
“We will have to learn from [today] and make sure we come back in Qatar stronger.”
A Farewell Before a Ferrari Shake-Up
Sainz’s podium finish in Las Vegas comes during his final season with Ferrari, as seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton is set to replace him in 2025. Despite the impending changes, Sainz remained upbeat about his performance:
“I was hoping Vegas had something to offer me after what happened last year. I’ll take a podium for this year.”
Ferrari’s Uphill Battle
With McLaren holding a 24-point lead and Mercedes resurging as a formidable force, Ferrari faces significant challenges in its bid to secure the Constructors’ title. As the season heads to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Ferrari will need flawless execution to capitalize on any opportunities and salvage what has been an inconsistent campaign.
For Sainz, Las Vegas offered a small redemption and a moment to move past the chaos of 2023. However, it also underscored the high stakes and relentless demands of competing at the pinnacle of motorsport.
