Why is Carlos Sainz called the smooth operator?


Why is Carlos Sainz called the smooth operator?

Carlos Sainz the Ferrari F1 driver is a well-established name and is popularly called the “smooth operator” by his fans. Sainz has previously explained how Sade’s 1984 song Smooth Operator became a running joke for him in 2019.

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In 2019 Carlos finished fifth in the Hungarian Grand Prix and while coming back to the pits, he told his engineer on the radio, “Thomas, you know what that was,” before singing the song.

Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz

The song created a huge “frenzy” among F1 enthusiasts and was all over social media, moreover, the Spaniard sang the lyrics again after finishing fourth which later turned to third in the Brazilian GP 2019.

Back in the day when he was asked about the joke, Carlos said,

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Just a song that kept coming up on the radio of the car [during] the British Grand Prix.

I just started hearing it on the radio. And apparently, it is quite a bit famous song.

Carlos Sainz: I sang the song without knowing what a smooth operator was

Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz

Carlos while singing the song in Hungary wasn’t aware of what the phrase meant and while talking about it back then said,

After the race [at the Hungaroring] I sang this song, without knowing what a smooth operator was. Then people in the team started telling me what was a smooth operator. And then I realized, well, maybe I can attribute myself that and start creating a bit of a joke around me.

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But uh, I didn’t sing it because I considered myself a smooth operator, because I didn’t know what a Smooth Operator was.

Carlos has previously looked at all the memes that were popping on YouTube in 2019 regarding his “smooth operator” persona.

Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz

Carlos was pretty pleased with all the attention that he was getting in 2019 and since then the phrase “Smooth Operator” has stuck to him and is still known as the “smooth operator” up and down the F1 paddock.

Also Read: “We’ll keep pushing,” Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff says team will fight for wins after unexpected podium in Bahrain GP

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