In a surprising turn of events, Formula 1 race winner Carlos Sainz is set to add a rather unexpected vehicle to his impressive lineup of cars. The 31-year-old Spaniard recently transitioned to Williams, showcasing a remarkable comeback with two podium finishes this season—the first time the iconic British team has reached such heights since 2015. In an exclusive interview for Adam Hay-Nicholls’s ‘My Life in Cars,’ Sainz stepped away from the high-octane world of F1 to reflect on his automotive journey and his intriguing plans for the future.
“My first road car was a Golf GTi that my parents gifted me for my 18th birthday. I still have it. It remains my car when I’m in Madrid,” Sainz reminisced about his early days behind the wheel. However, his next car promises to be a stark contrast to the sleek machines of the racetrack. Alongside his girlfriend, Rebecca Donaldson, Sainz will soon be zipping around the streets of Monte Carlo in a Fiat Topolino electric microcar. This tiny, sustainable marvel is the modern-day equivalent of the classic Fiat 500, designed to champion electric mobility in urban landscapes, and it’s easy to envision Sainz navigating the glamorous streets of Monaco in this compact vehicle.
Sainz’s illustrious career has seen him drive for some of the most prestigious teams in F1, including McLaren and Ferrari. His stint with McLaren included access to the breathtaking McLaren 720S supercar, which he hailed as “one of the most impressive cars I’ve ever driven.” He fondly noted, “It was an incredible company car! I got to drive it whenever I was in the UK, which was a lot. Unfortunately, I don’t have a company car these days with Williams. That’s probably something I should have put in my contract.”
When it comes to his Ferrari collection, which includes several stunning models, Sainz has a particular affinity for the Ferrari Purosangue, declaring it his daily driver in Monaco. “My girlfriend drives both when I’m not around. I tell her to be a bit more careful with the Purosangue. It’s important that I always have a car that can fit a bag of golf clubs as I’m mad about the game,” he explained. For Sainz, weekends mean morning coffee followed by a scenic drive to the golf course, which is perched 900 meters atop a mountain, offering breathtaking views.
Reflecting on a milestone moment in his life, Sainz shared, “The first time I bought a car with my own money was in 2022. The 812 Competizione came out, and my first Ferrari paycheck had been cashed, so I said, right, I’m going to buy a Ferrari. It was the most beautiful car I’d ever seen.” His collection also boasts the extravagant Daytona SP3, valued at an astonishing £4 million, and the SF90 XX Spider, worth £1.5 million. “They’re all tailor-made [Ferrari’s customisation department] in my colors, and they all have variations of the same details,” he added, detailing his penchant for personalization. Each car is adorned in a dark iron hue, accented with thin red lines, and features a hidden red chili—a nod to the nickname “Little Chilli” from his childhood. He also incorporated his race number, 55, into the designs, along with the phrase “Smooth Operator” elegantly inscribed on the door sills.
When asked about his ultimate automotive aspiration, Sainz didn’t hesitate to name the Ferrari F80 as his dream car, a sentiment that resonates deeply with car enthusiasts everywhere. As Sainz continues to make waves in the world of F1, his love for cars—both on and off the track—remains as vibrant as ever, promising an exhilarating future ahead.
