Carlos Sainz’s outstanding performance at the Australian Grand Prix served as a reminder of his strong driving skills to the entire racing world. The only driver to challenge Red Bull’s supremacy in the last two seasons is the Spaniard. From Toro Rosso to Ferrari, his path has been nothing less than remarkable.
Carlos Sainz’s Journey to Formula 1
Growing up, Sainz had a big racing drive in him since his father was a rally race driver and a world rally champion. In 2015, Sainz joined Toro Rosso, where he teamed up with Max Verstappen.
![F1: Who Did Carlos Sainz Replace at Ferrari? Exploring The Spaniard's Exit From McLaren](http://thesportsorbit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Untitled-design-11-1.jpg)
Two years later, in 2019, he joined McLaren, taking the place of his idol, Fernando Alonso, alongside Lando Norris. For the team, the partner combination was successful. Chilli raced for McLaren for two seasons, finishing on the podium twice.
Chilli’s exit from McLaren to Ferrari
In 2021, Sainz announced his exit from McLaren to join Ferrari as Sebastian Vettel’s replacement. With Charles Leclerc, they were the youngest driver combination in Ferrari’s recent history.
![F1: Who Did Carlos Sainz Replace at Ferrari? Exploring The Spaniard's Exit From McLaren](http://thesportsorbit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Untitled-design-12-1.jpg)
2021 was the first year since 2007 that Ferrari has signed someone who is not a current or past world champion. As the 2021 season came to an end, Ferrari appeared to have gained huge success by taking a third position in the Constructors’ Championship. Over the past years, Sainz has made a huge difference for the team.
Unfortunately, this journey with Ferrari is coming to an end for the smooth operator, who is getting replaced by Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion. Sainz has not confirmed his seat for next year yet. Hopefully, we can see the chili’s fierce races ahead in the upcoming races.
![Fiza Nazeer](https://thesportsorbit.com/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/e9ada3bea50cdcebe34b75be2db35bbd.jpg?ver=1725210395)
Fiza is a writer at The Sports Orbit, focusing on F1 coverage. She is currently pursuing her master’s in broadcasting journalism and has a profound love for motorsports. She finds F1 to be the most engaging among others due to its adrenaline rush. She got interested in the sport after watching an F1 race with her brother and uncle, and she’s been hooked ever since. Her favorite team is Mercedes and she is a fan of Lewis Hamilton. Besides her dedication to F1, she enjoys activities like reading, practicing her calligraphy skills, and experimenting with cooking.