Brazilian Grand Prix Formula 1 2024: Carlos Sainz: “I miss my friend Peterhansel very much”

Carlos Sainz sinamor (Madrid, 1962) is already in the Dakar mode activated to the maximum. Test you in Morocco with the new Ford Raptor I showed him to run In the rhythm of the best In the Arabian Peninsula for an attempted invasion Touareg V with a different fifth car.

In the course of the conversation gives the news that Stephane Peterhansel, Mr. Dakar, does not participate For the first time since 1988. “I will miss my friend very much.”, He says emphatically that the lack of leadership enter the team in the last hour.

Ask your question. The last rally of Morocco (the last round of the World Rally Championship) was a great success for the new Ford Raptor, with which it was making its debut. The stage of victory and the podium between Avira and not so serious, how do you see Dakar 2025 now?

R. Well, in fact, Morocco always prepares good information about how Dakar is going. That’s why all the teams do it and especially it’s more important for us because it was a 100% new car. The balance was positive, with a stage win, two third places, and a fifth with a puncture and retirement. In this sense, the balance must be positive, but it is also true that there are duties to be performed. We already know that everything can happen before Morocco, but the balance is positive. And I think this puts us in a relatively optimistic position, I would say relatively, because you have to be very careful to face Dakar.

S. Can I tell you what needs to be improved?:

R. Well, the most important thing in the first year in Dakar is to look for that reliability. Also, logically, one wants to have a competitive car to try to fight for victory, but the most important thing is, above all, to have a new car, to look for reliability.

The candidates are Al-Attiyah and Loeb, but I won’t rule out Nani, Ekstrom and many young people are coming

S. I changed the Nasser Al-Attiyah team too, but immediately they are again the favorites of Dakar and Al-Attiyah declares himself a Campine. It is clear who the Dakar greats are, besides Loeb.

R. It is true that Nasser and Loeb are still the big candidates, but I will also put other drivers, my teammates, Matthias (esktrum), Nani, and then there is also a new wave of hard-pressed young drivers who are already in demand for this intergenerational relay. Well, it’s the history of motorsport, but it’s very nice to see young drivers come to fight for victory.

S. Do you know anything about Peterhansel?

R. He will not be there and I will miss my friend Stefan very much.

Q what many people feel is seeing Cristina Gutierrez shine with Dacia in the highest category, she will be able to emulate Jutta Kleinschmidt and her last victory in Dakar more than 20 years ago.

R. Obviously, Christina is burning at the stages, she is improving and it is the first year she will be racing with a car in the already important category and I think it is also the year of gaining experience, but she is taking the right steps to fight there.

With Christina and Laya we are lucky to have the two best women in Dakar; they can fight from T to T with anyone

S. How do you see Laya Sanz?, His partner at maximum e.

R. Laia was not able to race in Morocco, but with her and Christina we are lucky because we have the two best women who can compete today in Dakar. I would like Laya to make her participation really concrete, I hope that it will be at the beginning of Dakar and I, frankly, will support her to the maximum because I believe in her very much and I think she has all the qualities to fight from T to T with everyone.

Congratulations this week on Carlos winning the Mexican Grand Prix. He is at the best moment of his life as a pilot.

R. He made us all happy and I think this Mexican Grand Prix was a great weekend for him, especially because it comes at a good time after a hard year, a year that starts with knowing that he is not going to lock himself up and that he has to find the way on the other hand, a year in which it was not easy and I think this shows us that he does not lower his arms, that he does not get frustrated and that he is a driver when he has a good car and he has a good feeling with the car he can fight with anyone to win.

Absolutely, there is no bad relationship between me and Gus Verstappen

Q: it is published in some media that if you have not signed for Red Bull it is because there is a bad relationship between you and Jos Verstappen from the time of Toro Rosso.

R. We must respect all opinions, but certainly, no. There is no bad relationship between me and Jos Verstappen and what’s more, this year he makes his beginnings in rallies and we talked on various occasions about rallies, notes and the car…

Q: you give him private lessons…

A: no, not at all, but the relationship is friendly..

S. Competition in another year, it was easier to get to one of the best teams, I took Hamilton seriously in a year when almost no one finished the contract.

R. Well, it’s not. Formula 1 has its own conditions, difficulties and times. Therefore, I say,we have to respect them and more things… I know that Carlos is very excited and excited about the Williams project and obviously he also wants to be in a position to fight for winning races as soon as possible. It is true that what he said at the Mexican Grand Prix, a little bittersweet taste, it seems that only now when Ferrari is doing better, at this moment, after those four years, it was, well, what he said, that it makes him a little angry so that he cannot enjoy this position next year, where Ferrari, if you follow this line, starts as one of the candidates.

S. And Carlos has been rowing for four years at Ferrari and Hamilton will have this luck as always, in his entire sports career, to find the best car or one of the best

R. (He laughs with laughter but there is no response.)