AS FAST AS ANYONE: CARLOS SAINZ ANALYZES LANDO NORRIS'S TITLE-WINNING SPEED
Carlos Sainz believes Lando Norris has the speed and form to win the F1 title in Abu Dhabi, but insists a podium finish is "never easy." Norris leads by 12 points.
Carlos Sainz thinks Lando Norris has a shot at his first world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but he admits it won't be a cakewalk, even in a McLaren.
"I wish them the best," Sainz said, hinting that Norris has what it takes.
Norris is leading the championship race as he goes into Sunday's final race.
He's got a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, the current World Champion, and Oscar Piastri is close behind, just four points further back.
Norris just needs to finish in the top three to win the title, no matter where Verstappen and Piastri end up.
But it's not as simple as it sounds.
Since F1 came back from summer break, Norris has finished on the podium five times, but he also had one retirement, one disqualification, and two races where he scored points but didn't get on the podium.
Sainz knows Norris has been doing well lately, but he's not counting anything out.
When asked about the title race in Abu Dhabi, Sainz told the media, I'm interested, for sure, and I'll be watching closely. I get along great with Lando, and I want him to do well. I also respect Max and Oscar and wish them the best.
I think Abu Dhabi is good for Lando. It's good for him that the finale is in Abu Dhabi. When I was his teammate, it was one of his best tracks. He won last year in front of me, which still stings a bit.
He was dominant in that race, and I know it's a good track for him and for McLaren, so he has that going for him.
But still, having to finish on the podium is never easy, even in a McLaren.
He needs to have a perfect weekend, and I think he can do it, especially with how well he's been handling pressure lately.
Sainz was Norris's first teammate in Formula 1 when Norris, now 26, started with McLaren in 2019.
They were teammates for two seasons before Sainz moved to Ferrari. They bonded over racing and golf and were even nicknamed 'Carlando' on social media.
Sainz said Norris was always fast but is now a more complete driver.
What I saw right away from Lando was his amazing ability to drive the car at the limit and put together great qualifying laps, Sainz stated.
I've been teammates with Charles [Leclerc], with Max, and with Lando—with all the top guys, I think.
Lando has all the speed he needs. In fact, he's as quick as anyone, maybe even quicker on his good days.
What he's really improved is his consistency throughout the year. He's strong on tracks that he wasn't as strong on in his first couple of years. Now, when I watch him drive, he's strong everywhere. He's learned to be quick in any situation, on any track, with more experience.
He's definitely a more all-around driver now than he was in his first few years, but I don't think he's any faster.
When you get to Formula 1, you're already as fast as you can be. After that, it's about learning how to be quick in every type of corner or on every type of track.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
