The Spanish driver got his first victory in F1 after 150 races
“I’m curious if the pressure of fighting for the World Cup will affect him,” said Jacques Vileneuve on ‘Formule1.nl’
Carlos Sainz made history with his victory in Silverstone by becoming the second Spanish driver to achieve a victory in Formula 1. The Ferrari driver got the first place after a long career with more than 150 races behind him. Once this door is open, the question is whether he will be able to translate this first stardom into the fight for the World Cup. Jacques Villeuneuve raised this possibility in his reflection on ‘Formule1.nl’.
“Maybe this victory will reduce some of the pressure on Sainz,” he began. “Will he get poles or win races more often now? He’s a smart, sensible boy with a nice car. Some succumb to the pressure or slow down. Others are launched and are unstoppable, as happened with Verstappen“, he explained.
The former F1 champion in 1997 also argues that ‘Carlos Sainz is no longer the son of Carlos Sainz. He is Carlos Sainz’. Another issue he criticized was the lack of communication between the Ferrari team and its drivers and Leclerc’s attitude.
“Leclerc spoke as if he had already been declared the final leader and he is not, nor is it according to the contract. It is too early for those kinds of distinctions, Sainz still has a chance.. He scored good points and can come back after a good result and a bad day of competition”, he explained.
For now, Carlos Sainz He is fourth in the F1 drivers’ standings, behind Leclerc, Perez and Verstappen. “Making a decision too soon, while two drivers have a chance to win the title, can also cost them their heads as a team,” says the Canadian.
On the management of the ‘Scuderia’ in the decisive phase of the race, Villeuneuve considers that “what I liked about Leclerc’s race was how fast he was with a damaged front wing”. “There was no logic behind the decision to let him continue on the hard tires after the ‘Safety Car’ in the final part of the race – they gave away a one-two finish at Silverstone..