The Spaniard inherited his passion for golf from his father and dragged along with his Ferrari companion. McLaren’s Englishman practices it very seriously, even playing with the professionals
Luigi Perna
April 27, 2022 – 5.45pm
– Milan
“Another two years with Mr. Sainz to play chess, padel, golf and a little bit also to run …”. With this message on social media Charles Leclerc celebrated the confirmation of Carlos Sainz as a teammate at Ferrari until 2024. A friendship has been established between the drivers of the red that goes beyond Formula 1. They spend many hours together, even in free time away from the circuits, and they enjoy competing against each other continuously, driven by healthy competition that goes beyond racing. Golf is Sainz’s specialty. He started practicing it around the age of 15, then he started getting serious by taking lessons from a teacher and now he has reached an excellent level. Once he even played with English champion Ian Poulter.
with dad
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Instead Leclerc is a beginner. He only agreed to follow Carlos as a challenge. “I’m trying to convince him to play golf – said Sainz last year on the eve of Imola -. But he doesn’t accept because he’s not capable”. A provocation that Charles could not fail to accept. So now there are two Ferrari fans on the green. And the Monegasque also begins to show some discreet shots. Usually, before leaving for a GP, they inquire if there is a Golf Club on site to go to. The next stage of F1 is Miami, where they will compete on May 8, and of course Sainz has already taken a look … The Spaniard has followed in the footsteps of his father Carlos, two-time world rally champion and winner of the Dakar . He also plays golf. “I started during a summer in Mallorca, I was 25, and still today I enjoy playing with my son on the fields of the Banco Santander headquarters, just outside Madrid – he says -. It’s a way of being together and relaxing. Being concentrating on golf helps him to distract himself from the pressures of Formula 1 for a few hours “.
even lando
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Another one with whom Sainz junior often confronts is Lando Norris, the English driver his teammate at McLaren in 2019 and 2020. And they are almost always joined by Alex Albon, the Anglo-Thai of Williams. After all, the tradition of British golf enthusiasts starts from afar: Nigel Mansell, the mustachioed former Ferrari driver, and his son Damon Hill, world champion with Williams in 1996, preceded the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who he is also part of the company. Frenchman Alain Prost also has a good handicap. For Norris in particular, golf is really serious. He played with Rory Mcllroy and Collin Morikawa just before they played the Abu Dhabi tournament. Plus there is a DP World Tour video showing him in action on the Dubai courts showing off his great swing. Once the McLaren press officer teased him: “By continuing like this, in a few months you will become an old retiree.” Provoking Lando’s immediate response: “Golf is not for seniors, although most people think it is! It is one of the most physical sports I have ever played. After a game, my abs are sore as hell. So much so that I do. I always ask: are we sure that I’m hitting the ball well? “.
April 27, 2022 – 5.45pm
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