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.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
