Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Breaking news

Sainz says son got "revenge" after 2018 Dakar victory

Dakar winner Carlos Sainz believes his son Carlos Jr took “revenge” on him this month for all the advice he has given him during his single-seater career.

Car winner Carlos Sainz, Peugeot Sport

Car winner Carlos Sainz, Peugeot Sport

Peugeot Sport

Winner #303 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 3008 DKR: Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz
#303 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 3008 DKR: Carlos Sainz
Car winner Carlos Sainz, Peugeot Sport
#303 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 3008 DKR: Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz
Car winners Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz, Peugeot Sport
Car winner Carlos Sainz, Peugeot Sport
Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz, Cyril Despres, Peugeot Sport
Car winners Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz, Peugeot Sport, Bruno Famin
#308 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 3008 DKR: Cyril Despres, David Castera
Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz, Cyril Despres, Peugeot Sport

Sainz Sr has been a regular fixture at his son’s side during his rise from karting to F1, and he still attends grands prix with the Renault driver. 

However, speaking after taking his second Dakar victory this weekend, Sainz said their roles were reversed during the two-week rally.

“I talked to him every day before and after each stage and I think he has taken revenge on all the advice I have given him during all this time, because he has done the same during these last two weeks,” said Sainz Sr.

“[We talked about] the tactics of each day, he asked and commented that it was worse or better in each moment.”

Moments after his father won the event, Sainz Jr tweeted his congratulations.

 

Sainz Sr, who said the difficulty of this year’s event compared to the two editions of the rally he contested in Africa, added it was challenging to maintain the big advantage he had once teammate Stephane Peterhansel fell out of victory contention, due to the nature of the stages and the mental difficulties of trying to protect a lead in such a gruelling event.

“We have seen in this race that every day things happened and it was very hard,” he added. “Every day there will be a surprise, with traps. You have to be lucky. I have never run a race like this.

“It is difficult to win a race that lasts two weeks. When you win with this advantage [44 minutes], you have done the job well.

“From the [Dakars] I have done this has been the hardest, including the two in Africa that I did [in 2006 and 2007].

“My life has been the WRC and where I feel really comfortable and I enjoy it is in a [traditional rally] stage.

“We have seen it all in this rally, with a lot of [the route] outside [normal stages], which is the part where I feel less comfortable. It’s not easy when you have so much advantage to keep the rhythm.

“Sometimes when you go more slowly you can make mistakes and it’s harder to stay focused because you’re not used to being so careful.”

With Peugeot ending its Dakar programme Sainz’s future in the event is in doubt, but after his victory he said: “There’ll be time to think about it. Peugeot retires and we’ll see what we do.”

Additional reporting by Sergio Lillo

Watch video highlights 

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Dakar 2018: Santosh finishes career-best 34th, Hero beats TVS
Next article Walkner: "Luck was on my side" in Dakar triumph

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA