Winner of the 2020 Dakar Rally at the tender age of 57 – for the third time, having also done so aged 47 and 55 – Carlos Sainz the Elder is considered the 'father of motorsport', and one of the few distinctions missing from his trophy cabinet is the Princess of Asturias Award, Spain's answer to the Nobel Prizes.
“I think he can now retire happily,” said son Carlos Sainz Junior.
“Although I don't know why I'm doubting that he will.”
With over 40 years of competitive rally-driving, Carlos Sainz Father was recently proclaimed World Rally Championship (WRC) Best Driver in History – and he is also said to be one of the planet's top mechanics.
Few drivers are thought to be as competent as Sainz Senior at preparing cars for rallies – from his first, legendary Rénault 5 Copa Turbo to his most recent Mini John Cooper Works Buggy – and he is known widely for his perfectionism.
His son, currently the only Spaniard in Formula 1 and believed to be the most promising driver at this level at present, said it has never been enough for his dad to be the fastest on the circuit; he also needs to know why he is the fastest, or why he failed to be so when this was the case.
Even Spain's top – but now-ex - Formula 1 driver, Fernando Alonso, said Carlos Sainz Senior was his idol and rôle model right from when he was a little boy competing in go-karts, and that he owes a huge amount of his own success to copying and studying Sainz's techniques.
The two became good friends and rivals in the Saudi desert at the beginning of this year during the Dakar Rally – and for Carlos Sainz the Elder, a hat-trick is not enough: He will join his regular co-driver Lucas Cruz once again in 2021, since he considers that, if he can win it at age 55 and again at 57, he ought to be able to do so still at 58.
In fact, he intends to keep at it until age and infirmity force him to hang up his helmet.
The above photograph shows Carlos Sainz Dad (left) after winning this year's Dakar Rally, alongside Carlos Sainz Son (right).
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