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Hakkinen: 'This victory will lift a weight from his shoulders'

Hakkinen: 'This victory will lift a weight from his shoulders'

05-07-2022 12:03 Last update: 16:21
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GPblog.com

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz managed to grab his first win in Formula 1 at the Silverstone circuit. Mika Hakkinen, in his column for Unibet, spoke highly of the Spanish driver and the quality of his racing. The Finn says he knows from his own experience how happy and relieved Sainz will be after his victory in England.

Sainz started the race from pole position, but was unable to defend this position for the entire race. It was only in the final stages of the race that he snatched this place back from teammate Charles Leclerc, who had to settle for fourth.

Seven years of waiting

"Like Carlos, I had to wait seven years before claiming my first victory in Formula 1 so I know how happy and relieved he will be," said Hakkinen. "It’s a huge achievement to win your first Formula 1 race. Suddenly the years of hard work and focus pay off."

The Finn sees Sainz as a popular guy and thinks he is talented. What bothers him is that he is up against Charles Leclerc and is therefore in his shadow. "This victory will lift a weight from his shoulders, take away some pressure, and I expect he will have even more confidence in himself and his ability after this."

Hesitation over strategy

Hakkinen also cited the strategy of the team from Maranello:"Ferrari hesitated on team strategy, allowing Carlos and Charles to get into a battle which cost them time and allowed Lewis Hamilton to close on them."

The analyst listened to the radio communication and understands that the team were trying to help Leclerc win the race, despite the car having damage. "I think the way Carlos handled that situation and then took advantage of having fresh tyres after the final safety car was brilliant," he said. The Finn concluded: "But Ferrari need to have a very clear team strategy at each race if they are to challenge Red Bull during the second half of the season."