What Is Carlos Sainz’s Past Record At The Qatar GP Look Like?

It is no rocket science to note that not too many runs of Qatar GP have happened as on date. As a matter of fact, there have only been two F1 Grands Prix that have taken place in one of the most industrious and popular regions in the Persian Gulf. With a third installation of the Qatar Grand Prix about to take place in 2024, Formula 1 will have raced just thrice at one of its newest venues on the calendar.

But having said that, one wonders just how might Carlos Sainz’s record be at a venue that is not only thrilling but bellied by the peculiar challenge of contesting at a track that was originally conceived just for MotoGP?

It is abundantly clear and one doesn’t need to be reminded that all that remain for Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari career (at least, as of now) are two races. With the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix primed to be the season-finale, all eyes are set on the Lusail circuit, which will host the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix and with thus the season’s penultimate race.

Having said that, while true to his usual gritty and focused ways, Carlos Sainz showed glimpses of flashing speed during Friday’s run for the sprint qualifying, he would eventually end up with just a fourth.

And while that meant that the noted Spanish driver, responsible for two Grands Prix wins this season, emerged the fastest of the two Ferrari drivers for Saturday’s sprint race, he wasn’t really able to pull out an ace for the Maranello-based outfit.

Fresh from what was a podium finish at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, an effort that saw Carlos Sainz bag his maiden top three finish at Nevada, even that particular run was stymied by controversy. While it will make for another polarising debate as to who really was at fault- should Carlos not have overtaken Leclerc in the closing stages or was Ferrari’s team communication unclear- what is clear is this.

And it’s that the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix presents Carlos Sainz jr. with a fresh opportunity to sanitise what has insofar been an ordinary run at the venue.

Let’s go back to the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, the maiden appearance of the venue on the F1 calendar. Sainz began from seventh on the grid (ahead of Leclerc’s thirteenth) but finished in the same place.

In what was a rather low-key result for both Ferrari drivers, there wasn’t much of a gain for the Madrid-born. Those who are aware of his ability to put on a strong fight and that keen desire to bring solid results for the team would not make much of the fact that Sainz himself wouldn’t have been satisfied in just beating his teammate, which was the fact that year. Charles Leclerc, who’s been quite a showman during several qualifying battles over the past half a decade and been a scintillating race winner as seen on many an occasion, could just bag a P8.

But what happened thereafter?

After missing out in 2022 owing to the widely-followed FIFA World Cup, the Qatar Grand Prix returned in 2023 but even that event wasn’t so successful for Carlos Sainz jr.

Last year, Sainz struggled for grip and pace during qualifying and began from a lowly twelfth on the grid. Even Yuki Tsuonda, otherwise widely talented albeit in an Alpha Tauri Honda RBPT began ahead of the Spaniard. From that point on, the 57-lap contest ought to have been an outfight struggle for the chances of overtaking on the high downforce track aren’t too vast to note anyway.

In the end, Carlos Sainz endured a nightmare at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix

Owing to a fuel leak issue, he wasn’t even able to start the Grand Prix. A run of unexpected skirmishes or let’s say unfortunate episodes marred some of his final races last year. Forget not the whole episode of running onto an open manhole cover had already spoiled his 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Unlike last year, Qatar that presented a closely contested Red Bull versus McLaren show, which Verstappen would dominate will be according to Carlos Sainz an opportunity to vastly improve his performances here.

A lot, however, will depend on the confidence derived from the sprint race followed by the actual event’s qualifying grid position. It’s a no-brainer where the outgoing Ferrari driver is concerned. His record deserves better race finishes than he currently has against his name. It’s as simple as that.