Carlos Sainz receives $4 million farewell gift from Scuderia Ferrari
Carlos Sainz was presented with a bespoke version of the elusive Ferrari Daytona SP3 by the Italian manufacturer as a farewell gift.
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Carlos Sainz and Ferrari Daytona SP3, images via IMAGO and Instagram/ferrariscuderiamontecarlo
The breakup of Ferrari and Carlos Sainz was one of the biggest setbacks of 2024. With his impressive performance in the last few rounds, he bowed out of Maranello with his head held up high to move to Williams. Subsequently, as a farewell gift from the Italian powerhouse, Sainz was given a custom-built version of the $4 million Ferrari Daytona SP3.
After the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, Carlos Sainz was given a perfect farewell by Ferrari. At the Fiorano circuit, Sainz and his father, Carlos Sainz Sr. got behind the wheel of F1-75 and drove laps around the 2.99-kilometre track. However, this was not all, as the Maranello-based squad had further farewell presents planned for the departing Spaniard.
The 30-year-old’s last surprise lied at his second home in Monaco as he was called up to collect a bespoke version of the Ferrari Daytona SP3. The car houses a 6.5 litre V12 engine that produces a whopping 829 horsepower and is mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.
The Daytona SP3 was painted matte grey with red accents on the side including Sainz’s race number 55. Moreover, his signature phrase “Smooth operator” was also etched in the engine’s intakes and the in the centre console. This makes him and Charles Leclerc have a similar specification of the elusive car in their collection.
Does Red Bull regret not signing Carlos Sainz?
While Sainz was struggling to find a top team that would sign him, Red Bull found themselves trapped in second driver woes, once again. The Austrian giant eventually agreed to give Sergio Perez another contract. This resulted in Sainz to settle with a backmarker team in the form of Williams.
On the other hand, Perez’s subpar performances costed Red Bull the constructors’ title. Subsequently, after getting in Liam Lawson to drive at the senior team, team principal Christian Horner was asked whether he regretted not signing the Spaniard, when he was a free agent.
I think Carlos is a great driver and we’ve seen that obviously this year at some times. You’ve got to look at all the various criteria and dynamics. At the point that we extended Checo’s contract you have to remember that he was second in the world championship and finishing on the podium in the first four out of five races.
Christian Horner told Sky F1
Though Horner gave a diplomatic answer, he did not evade the question of regretting he was unable to sign Sainz. So there is a high chance that the Austrian giant regrets not being able to hire the Spaniard.
However, the 30-year-old’s entry might have shaken up the stable intra team dynamics at Milton Keynes. This may have caused the Briton to look elsewhere, which resulted in him offering a contract extension to the Mexican.
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Geetansh Pasricha
(772 Articles Published)