Carlos Sainz and his father celebrate an emotional Ferrari farewell, sharing a unique F1 experience at Fiorano’s legendary circuit.
Ferrari bid farewell to Carlos Sainz and his family in a very special way at the Fiorano circuit.
Early this morning, Carlos and his father arrived at the track where all Ferrari cars have been tested for over half a century, both dressed in racing suits, helmets, and gloves. Waiting for them in the garage were two 2022 F1-75 cars.
After a quick briefing, it was time to start the first of the two cars, and at 9:45 AM, three years and 324 days after his son’s first appearance in red on January 27, 2021, Carlos Sainz Sr. made his debut at the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car.
The rally and rally raid champion had driven an F1 before, but nearly two decades ago. Despite a spin, Senior quickly found his rhythm, completing several laps with consistent lap times. Mid-morning, his son also took to the track, reacquainting himself with the car in which he claimed his maiden F1 victory at the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Father and son then returned to the track for a few formation laps. During his four seasons with the team, Sainz participated in 88 races, winning four, securing six pole positions and 25 podiums, and amassing 900.5 points.
Next, the Sainz duo transitioned from the modern to the historic, with a stunning 735 LM now managed by Ferrari Classiche. This car competed in the Mille Miglia with Piero Taruffi and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Harry Schell and Maurice Trintignant. Its year of construction? 1955, perfectly matching the Spaniard’s racing number.
The unforgettable day at Fiorano ended with a group photo, with the Sainz family insisting that Charles Leclerc and Fred Vasseur join them in the picture.
Carlos Sainz Sr. stated: “I want to thank you all. You cannot imagine. Today, you made a grandfather a very happy man.”
Referencing his father’s victory at the Dakar Classic Rally earlier this year, Sainz Jr. added in Italian: “This year, a 62-year-old grandfather drives a Ferrari and wins the Dakar. Thank you all, and see you on the track next year!”
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Ferrari Waves Goodbye: Sainz’s Final Fiorano Lap Ferrari Waves Goodbye: Sainz’s Final Fiorano Lap
