Formula 1: Is Carlos Sainz Jr. ready for a Ferrari ride?

Is Carlos Sainz Jr. ready to drive for Ferrari in the 2021 Formula 1 season if he is the man who gets the call to replace Sebastian Vettel?

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. has been tipped to replace four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari in the 2021 season after Vettel and Ferrari announced that the 2020 season will be their sixth and final season together.

Sainz had been considered one of the two frontrunners to end up in red next year, along with Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, while there were several other drivers seen as longshots, such as Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas as well as Alfa Romeo Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi.

Sainz did an impressive job in his fifth season, his first with McLaren, last year, placing sixth in the driver standings and becoming the first non-Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull Racing driver to place in the top six since the 2015 season.

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He secured his first career podium finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix, and he did it after starting all the way back in 20th (last) place.

But if he is confirmed by the Scuderia to replace Vettel and join Charles Leclerc in what would be one of Formula 1’s youngest driver lineups next year, is he up for the challenge?

We saw what happened last year when Pierre Gasly was promoted from Toro Rosso to a top-tier ride at Red Bull Racing far too soon, despite being seen as the best option. That ended at the summer break, when he was demoted back to Toro Rosso and replaced by Alexander Albon.

But with Sainz, it is different. While he is young at only 25 years old, the Spaniard has been in Formula 1 for a half-decade, and the 2020 season, whenever it starts, will be his sixth.

So he would be joining Ferrari as a seven-year veteran, and he has had his share of success throughout the early stages of his career. Even Leclerc joined the team in only his second year, although the 22-year-old Monegasque is admittedly a bit of an outlier given how well he came on not only with Ferrari but with Sauber the previous year.

Despite Daniil Kvyat having scored 21 of his 25 points in 2016 during his four races with Red Bull Racing, Sainz still outscored him 46 to 25 while driving solely for Toro Rosso. The following year, Sainz scored 48 of the team’s 53 points, and he did it in only 16 races, as he made the move to Renault with four races remaining.

The 2018 season saw him outscored by teammate Nico Hulkenberg, but as noted above, he really had a breakout year last year, and he did it despite starting the season with three consecutive finishes of 14th place or worst and a series-low average finish of 17.67 through three races.

Throughout the remainder of the 21-race season, he was the class of “the rest” en route to the best non-Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull Racing finish in the driver standings since Valtteri Bottas placed fifth with Williams in 2015.

He finished as the “best of the rest” driver in six races, and he closed the season with an impressive eight top six finishes, including four top five results.

Gasly and Albon both had the advantage of spending time with Red Bull Racing (Gasly in 12 races, Albon in nine), and Sainz still beat both of them in the driver standings. The next closest non-Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull Racing driver to Sainz in the standings was Ricciardo, who finished in ninth with just 54 points, barely half of Sainz’s total of 96.

With all things considered, the idea that he somehow isn’t ready is a bit absurd, even though a move to the sport’s all-time most successful team will undoubtedly bring with it an element of pressure which Sainz has not previously experienced.

Even before Vettel confirmed his departure from Ferrari, the rumors of Sainz joining the team were still present, and Sainz stated the following to Mundo Deportivo.

"“I also follow the news of Formula 1, like any other athlete who follows the breaking news of his sport. As for the rumors, I think you know that I am not going to tell you anything new because there is really nothing new because F1 is totally paralyzed and nothing is moving, but what I do tell you is that I trust my abilities as a pilot.“I think last year as you know I took a very important step forward, and whether it be in a Ferrari, a Mercedes or a McLaren I think I am capable of doing very good things, I don’t think you should have any doubts about that. I try to stay out of it quite a bit because obviously there is too much free time and too much time to read things.”"

Now it looks as though he’ll get to prove it.

The reports that Carlos Sainz Jr. will replace Sebastian Vettel are not yet official, but all signs point to Ferrari confirming him as Charles Leclerc’s teammate for the 2021 Formula 1 season. Is he ready for that promotion?