Bittersweet Mexico win highlights Sainz's underrated talent

Formula One's explosive season continued in Mexico with a fabulous victory for Carlos Sainz that underlined not just how underrated he is in some circles, but how poignant it is that he is the man Ferrari will drop at the end of the season in favour of Lewis Hamilton.

- David Tremayne

While the dashing Charles Leclerc tends to make the headlines, with some fabulous victories of his own but also some spectacular accidents, Sainz is quieter but has all the toughness a driver needs to succeed at the highest level.

No wonder he says that Ferrari's latest upturn is bittersweet, as he won't be there in 2025 when he believes they will be poised for a serious attack on the world championships.

“I feel like I've been quite a big part of this team during the last four years trying to prepare to fight for that,” he said after taking pole position in Mexico. “And the fact that I'm driving well, being fast with the car, and I'm leaving in five races definitely leaves me a bit... I don't know how to say it, but not with a very good feeling.”

The following day he destroyed everyone with a pluperfect victory, his first witnessed by his mother Reyes, together with his multiple world champion father Carlos Sr and his girlfriend Rebecca Donaldson.

Memorably, he was the only man to pass Max Verstappen without a problem.