{"id":1430329,"date":"2021-10-20T16:51:41","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T20:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1430329"},"modified":"2021-10-20T16:51:47","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T20:51:47","slug":"formula-1-driver-carlos-sainz-signed-most-important-deal-in-pajamas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/formula-1-driver-carlos-sainz-signed-most-important-deal-in-pajamas\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula 1 Driver Carlos Sainz Jr. Signed the Most Important Deal of His Life While in His Pajamas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Formula 1<\/a> schedule for Sunday at Circuit of the Americas lists one race. However, there are always two races lately: Red Bull, led by Max Verstappen<\/a>, vs. Mercedes, led by Lewis Hamilton<\/a>, is the main event. Carlos Sainz Jr. and 15 other drivers fighting for table scraps are in the other race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, all the drivers leave the grid for one race at 3 p.m. ET for 56 laps on the 3.42-mile circuit. Verstappen and Hamilton will be the favorites as they continue to wage their battle for the World Drivers\u2019 Championship. Verstappen holds a 262.5-256.5 edge over the seven-time world champion. It\u2019s likely their contest will go down to the final race of the season on Dec. 12 at Abu Dhabi. And while that understandably drives the flourishing interest in Formula 1, the contest behind them is every bit as intriguing and exciting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Carlos
Carlos Sainz Jr. poses after the podium ceremony during the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 23, 2021. | Pascal Le Segretain\/WireImage for Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That race starts with teammates. Red Bull and Mercedes are head-and-shoulders above the other teams, even the storied Scuderia Ferrari organization, in equipment and technology. As such, Valtteri Bottas<\/a> (Mercedes, 177 points) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull, 135) also reside in the top five of the driver standings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Lando Norris of McLaren (145), and Ferrari\u2019s Sainz (116.5) and Charles Leclerc (116), have separated themselves into the next class of drivers, with Daniel Ricciardo<\/a> of McLaren (95) close enough to be in that conversation. If they were driving with the Red Bull or Mercedes imprimatur, they would all be earning rock-star treatment rather than pop-star treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the bunch, Sainz is the most interesting Formula 1 driver. He has bounced around quite a bit already despite being a mere 27 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short version is that Red Bull allowed him to walk from a support role. So, he marked time at Renault in 2018 before finishing sixth in points the next two seasons with McLaren. When Ferrari came calling for a replacement for Sebastian Vettel, Sainz made the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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