The Sainz family has a long and successful history in motorsport, with the father and son being hugely successful in their respective disciplines.
Carlos Sainz Jr is one of the most popular drivers on the Formula 1 grid today. Starting his career with Toro Rosso in 2015, he has since gone on to race for Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and he currently plies his trade at Williams.
The 31-year-old has four wins, all of which were with Ferrari, and 29 podiums, grabbing two in his first season with Williams in 2025. Sainz opted not to follow his father’s path in motorsport and went straight for the pinnacle.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Sr enjoyed huge success in rallying. He won the World Rally Championship in 1990 and 1992, and finished in the top three of the standings 11 times.
The Spaniard left the WRC in 2005, but his career did not end there. He has since competed in the Dakar Rally, and has won the event four times.
Carlos Sainz offers heartfelt message to his father during the Dakar Rally
Winning his first Dakar in 2010 with Volkswagen, he won again with Peugeot in 2018, Mini in 2020 and Audi in 2024. Sainz Sr won the 2024 edition without winning a stage during the event.
Now competing with Ford in 2026, Sainz is sitting second overall after stage nine of the event, 57 seconds behind fellow Ford driver, Nani Roma.
Posted on the Dakar Rally’s official X account, Sainz Sr received a message from Sainz Jr and his family as they offered words of encouragement.
The Williams F1 driver said: “Hi Dad, I’m not going to tell you anything that I haven’t already told you in these thousand phone calls that we’ve had during this Dakar.
“I think that everything is going great, you’re doing a very good rally. Lots of encouragement to you and to Lucas. Keep it up, and a very important second week is coming, which I’m sure you’re going to get through well.
“Go for it and go for that Dakar! Stay strong.”
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Carlos Sainz Jr has not ruled out taking part in the Dakar Rally
The Dakar is significantly different to what Sainz Jr is used to in F1. But that may not stop him from giving his father’s sport a try.
The Spaniard recently drove his father’s Ford Raptor TI+ and was asked if he would take part in the event one day.
He said via DirtFish: “I had a lot of fun. That probably stayed with me, saying maybe one day I need to try Dakar.”
Sainz Sr has also tried his hand at F1. He was given the chance to drive his son’s Ferrari F1 car as a promise from the team after he departed for Williams.
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