Ferrari bids farewell to the Spaniard with a special gift for Sainz: the F1-75 from his first victory at Silverstone
Sunday, July 3, 2022. This is the date of Carlos Sainz’s first triumph in Formula 1—the maiden victory of the “Matador” dressed predominantly in red. At Silverstone, Great Britain, a chaotic weekend unfolded. Saturday’s rain placed the Spaniard’s Ferrari on pole position, but it was during the race that the real drama began. Overtakes, restarts due to a red flag, and a lot of confusion on the Ferrari pit wall—especially on Leclerc’s side—set the stage. Amid this chaos, it was the Madrid-born pole sitter who capitalized, clinching victory in the closing stages with a decisive overtake on his teammate, the Monegasque driver, who finished fourth.
Sainz’s first victory in red continues to be celebrated in Maranello. As Carlos says his goodbyes and heads towards Williams, he and his father recently had the opportunity to drive the iconic F1-75. Now, the 2022 car will officially belong to him, gifted by Ferrari as a token of gratitude from Vasseur and the management for four unforgettable years with the Scuderia.
At the time of his departure, Carlos shared heartfelt words about his time with the Prancing Horse: “Thank you to Scuderia Ferrari, a truly special team. These four years together are something I’ll carry with me forever. I can’t find the words to describe my emotions—thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Similar gestures of gratitude have been extended in the past to Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, and Kimi Raikkonen, honoring their victories and joyful moments shared with the team. In true Ferrari spirit: “Once a red, always a red.”
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP