Sainz over the moon with sixth place in championship: "Seemed impossible!"
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
After securing sixth place in the drivers' championship on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz described the last-gasp overtake on Nico Hulkenberg for P10 as "madness", as the Spaniard needed one point to leapfrog Pierre Gasly in the standings.
By finishing sixth, Sainz becomes the first driver since Valtteri Bottas in 2014 to finish in the top six as a non-Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull driver.
After starting eighth, Sainz had a difficult race after he dropped down the order due to his strategy. He fought back, however, helped by the fact Gasly was a backmarker the whole race due to an early collision.
On the final lap, he caught up to his former teammate Hulkenberg and went for a brave overtake, which he pulled off as he crossed the line 10th, giving him that vital point.
"Absolute madness, I knew sixth place in the championship depended on it," Sainz told AS after his chaotic race when asked about the move.
"I had no chance if I didn't overtake Nico, and the only way of doing it was by doing it was stopping and then trying. And it was worth it."
"We did it in the end and I'm very, very happy."