Sainz praises his Dakar performance in his father's Ford.
"A wild experience, akin to a massive rollercoaster."
Carlos Sainz expressed that driving his father's Ford Dakar Raptor was among the most remarkable experiences of his life. During the Formula 1 summer break, the Williams driver visited the San Gregorio military base in Zaragoza to join his father, four-time Dakar champion Carlos Sainz Sr, for a Ford test. "It's reminiscent of what we did a year ago (at Ferrari), but with our roles switched. Initially, I'll be his co-driver, and then it will switch," the 31-year-old mentioned in a YouTube video about the event.
As he sat next to his father, Sainz Jr quickly understood the difficulties involved. "Dad, be careful!" he shouted several times. He admitted, "I was struggling. It’s a wild experience, like a massive rollercoaster. It feels like the final lap of your life."
"Being a co-driver in these vehicles is challenging—it's claustrophobic, and people claim an F1 car is small." After they switched places, the younger Sainz disclosed that he felt "very stressed" at first, but soon enjoyed driving the Ford Raptor T1. "The car instills a lot of confidence; I loved it, it’s a blast," he remarked.
"It’s one of the best cars I’ve ever operated. I didn’t anticipate it to be so exhilarating—definitely among the top two or three experiences of my life, alongside the first time I drove an F1 car." He also gave high praise to his 63-year-old father: "He’s incredible, utterly fearless. The fact that he’s still doing this at 63 astounds me. I already looked up to him, but after this, that admiration has only grown," Sainz stated.
The Spaniard also acknowledged the possibility of one day following in his father's footsteps in the Dakar rally. "I’ve already discussed with my father that I might attempt the Dakar someday. I can see myself trying," he revealed.
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