Carlos Sainz desperately wanted to win another race with Ferrari before departing the team at the end of the season and he did so in authoritative fashion at last weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix. Despite losing the lead to Max Verstappen at the start, the 30-year-old Spaniard craftily passed the three-time champion on a safety car restart and cruised to the checkered flag from there, delivering what may be his final win in Ferrari red.
Though it meant plenty to Sainz individually, what he did in Mexico to follow up teammate Charles Leclerc’s domination at the United States Grand Prix two weeks ago made a statement about Ferrari’s intentions this season. Team principal Fred Vasseur may be content to stay under the radar as Verstappen and Lando Norris duel for an individual title, but the Prancing Horse can no longer be ignored when it comes to the fight for a constructor’s championship.
