Formula 1: Crazy Carlos Sainz Jr. stat emerges after Hungary
By Asher Fair
Carlos Sainz Jr.’s fourth place finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix turned into a podium result, highlighting a crazy statistic in his Formula 1 career.
A chaotic start to Sunday’s Formula 1 race at the Hungaroring saw Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. move up several positions from his 15th place starting spot, and he remained in contention for a podium finish throughout the entire Hungarian Grand Prix once it got restarted.
Sainz ultimately crossed the finish line in fourth place, one spot shy of what would have been a career-high second podium finish of the season and fourth of his career.
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But after the race ended, it was determined by the stewards that Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel would be disqualified and thus lose his second place finish as a result of a fuel issue.
So Sainz was promoted into third place, netting him his second podium finish of the season after all.
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This brings to light what is quite a crazy statistic about the 26-year-old Spaniard’s Formula 1 career thus far: he has only managed to celebrate 50% of his podium finishes on the actual podium itself.
Sainz finished in fourth place after starting all the way back in 20th (last) in the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace. But third place finisher Lewis Hamilton was issued a post-race penalty for causing a late collision that knocked Alexander Albon out of second, and he was dropped to seventh, thus promoting Sainz to what was then a career-high third.
Sainz did get to celebrate his next two podium finishes, both of which were runner-up results. He finished in second place in the 2020 Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, and he did so again in the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco.
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The next race on the schedule is the Belgian Grand Prix, a race in which Sainz did not compete last year as a result of a pre-race issue with the car, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. In five career starts at the track, Sainz has a career-high finish of 10th place, having scored that result driving for Toro Rosso back in 2017. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 29.