STORY OF THE DAY: Sainz Claims His First Ferrari Podium

Carlos Sainz finished second in the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, driving the number 55 Ferrari SF21. Max Verstappen won the fifth round of the World Championship, with Lando Norris third. The result was Sainz’s first podium for Ferrari and the Scuderia’s best finish of the season to that point.

Ferrari’s weekend changed dramatically when pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was unable to start because of damage associated with his qualifying accident. Sainz ran behind Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas until Mercedes could not remove Bottas’s right-front wheel during a pit stop. Promoted to second, Sainz maintained a controlled pace and completed a clean race on a circuit where overtaking was exceptionally difficult.

The SF21 evolved from the preceding SF1000 while incorporating a revised rear end and a substantially improved Ferrari power unit. Its carbon-fibre chassis and 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid package were particularly effective in low-speed corners, traction zones and qualifying conditions, characteristics that suited Monaco.

Born in Madrid, Sainz came through karting and the Red Bull junior system before racing in Formula One for Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren. He joined Ferrari in 2021 as Sebastian Vettel’s replacement. His measured Monaco performance delivered an early landmark in his Ferrari career and demonstrated how quickly he had adapted to the team.