Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz Jr. was always going to race — the only question was at what level. Born in Madrid, the son of two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz Sr., he inherited the family passion for competition but has built a Formula 1 career entirely on its own considerable merits. After claiming the Formula Renault 3.5 championship in 2014, he made his F1 debut alongside Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015 and embarked on one of the sport's most well-travelled and consistently impressive careers — representing Renault, McLaren, and four productive seasons at Scuderia Ferrari, where he evolved from dependable points accumulator into genuine race winner.

At Ferrari, Sainz took his maiden Formula 1 victory at the 2022 British Grand Prix and added three more — Singapore, Australia, and Mexico City — before being displaced by Lewis Hamilton for 2025. His response was to join Williams and immediately revitalise the team, delivering back-to-back P3 finishes in Azerbaijan and Qatar — their first podiums in four years — before signing a new multi-year deal to commit to James Vowles' long-term rebuilding project. 2026 has been a more difficult year for the team in the new regulations, but Sainz's commitment to the cause has never wavered.

Tenacious, intelligent, and nicknamed "Chilli" for his hot-blooded attacking instinct, Sainz is one of the sport's most naturally competitive and enduringly likeable characters.