Carlos Sainz competed for McLaren in two seasons of Formula 1 – 2019 and 2020 – and achieved his first career victory in the sport with them at the 2019 Sao Pauli Grand Prix.
McLaren has undergone a lengthy rebuilding process since former boss Ron Dennis was removed from power in 2017 following a contentious struggle with other shareholders.
After numerous changes within the team’s structure, McLaren made a significant midseason leap in 2023 to narrow the gap at the front. They continued their success in 2024, becoming contenders every weekend after their upgrade in Miami.
Sainz departed for Ferrari before McLaren’s recent accomplishments. During the FIA Drivers’ press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix, Sainz was asked if he was surprised by his former team’s success.
He responded, “I wouldn’t say I could have predicted it. When I left McLaren four years ago, I had a feeling that the team was heading in the right direction. It was a great place to be, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
“So, when I left, I left with the belief that it was only a matter of time – whether it took them two years, four years, or six years – for McLaren to regain their former glory, considering their rich history of success. But I truly believed that they had the right people at that time to lead the team back to the front of the field.
“It took three to four years since my departure,” Sainz emphasized. “And especially in this past year, I think they have demonstrated their true strength and made significant strides in a very short period of time, but those strides have been substantial.
“Hats off to them,” concluded the driver, who will join Williams in 2025.
Another driver present at the press conference was Daniel Ricciardo, who was also a former McLaren driver. Ricciardo had a challenging time at McLaren and was let go at the end of the 2022 F1 season, with his highlight being a victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
When asked about his perspective, Ricciardo, known for his humor, jokingly replied, “I mean, I won a race there, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about! I had a lot of success there.”
On a more serious note, the Australian driver added, “It’s difficult. Most of my time there was more of a struggle or a challenge. Did I anticipate this? I won’t say yes because I don’t think I did. So, from that standpoint, it is somewhat surprising that in less than two years, they are currently the fastest package on the grid.”
Ricciardo insists that he doesn’t feel regretful about McLaren’s lack of competitiveness during his tenure with the team. He stated, “That’s the nature of the sport, that’s how it goes. And as Carlos mentioned earlier, you have to commend them. Anyone in this sport who is performing well, developing, and making significant progress in a short amount of time deserves recognition,” concluded the VCARB driver.
Photo from Carlos Sainz Instagram
