Welcome to the final show. And so, Carlos Sainz is set to experience his final race weekend as a driver for Scuderia Ferrari HP, at an event where the team is fighting to secure the Constructors’ Championship title.
The Abu Dhabi weekend will be one of those Formula 1 moments that will be remembered forever, not only for its thrilling sporting action but also for the emotional memories and promises of the upcoming season. At the end of the weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, Carlos Sainz will officially say goodbye to Scuderia Ferrari and join James Vowles’ team at Williams for the start of the 2025 season, beginning with the post-season tests. But before that, Sainz is determined to give his all to help secure the Constructors’ Championship, pushing until the very last corner of the Abu Dhabi circuit.
“Well, definitely, first of all, I think this weekend is going to be quite emotional, pretty intense—not only because it’s the last weekend but also because of what’s at stake with the Constructors’ title,” Carlos Sainz began during the press conference that marked the start of his final weekend with Ferrari. He emphasized not only the emotional charge of his last race with a Maranello car, but also the significance of the stakes for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Sainz continued by reflecting on the season, expressing pride in his performance up until Abu Dhabi: “At the same time, it’s been a tough year overall, with many things happening behind the scenes. I think I have to be pretty happy, pretty proud of how I’ve handled every situation throughout the year and how I’ve managed to push myself to the end of the season in good shape, in good condition, and ready to fight for this.”
Moreover, securing the Constructors’ Championship would be a perfect way for Carlos Sainz to bid farewell to Fred Vasseur’s team before moving to Williams next year: “It would mean everything to me, honestly. I think it would be the best way to say goodbye to my home of the last four years and to the team I’ve given my absolute best to in these last four years and with whom I’ve enjoyed every single moment. And to say goodbye with a Constructors’ title would be the perfect closure, the perfect farewell.”
The 30-year-old, however, acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, without losing hope and promising to give his maximum effort to earn the points needed to push Ferrari past McLaren in the standings: “I’m also honest in saying that it’s not an easy thing, but it’s still possible. Being 21 points behind two of the fastest drivers and one of the fastest teams and trying to recover those 21 points in one weekend requires perfection from us, and probably an off or suboptimal weekend for them. It’s going to be tough, but I’ve seen worse things happen in racing, and we will give our absolute best “.
McLaren vs Ferrari, Carlos Sainz speaks: “It’s so balanced among the top four teams that you can’t pick a team before the weekend”
Tomorrow, at 10:30 AM Italian time, the first practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will begin, which, unless any unforeseen events arise, could give us the first indications for the weekend on a track that has historically not been favorable for Ferrari, especially in a weekend where at least the top teams will be aiming to end the 2024 season on a high note.
According to Carlos Sainz, the outcome will depend not only on Ferrari and McLaren but also on Mercedes and Red Bull, as both have shown strong performances in recent races. George Russell’s victory in Las Vegas came between Max Verstappen’s wins in Brazil and São Paulo: “Honestly, I think the battle is very tight between us, but not just between Ferrari and McLaren, but also Mercedes and Red Bull. I think we are all just a few tenths apart “
“And depending on the track, the type of tire we use, the characteristics of the circuit, the wind, the conditions—one team will come out on top that weekend. Last weekend, it looked like McLaren would be on top, but in the end, it was Max. Another weekend, it was George, another weekend, it was me in Mexico, or again Max in wet conditions in Brazil. It’s almost like it’s so balanced among the top four teams that you can’t choose a winner before the weekend. I think we’re all waiting for practice to see who suddenly looks the strongest that weekend, ” the Spaniard explained, recalling the results of recent races.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP