Sainz: Fans "can laugh as much they want" about Ferrari move
Carlos Sainz says fans making jokes about his move to Ferrari for 2021 “can laugh as much as they want” and that he finds their ideas “pretty funny”.
Current McLaren driver Sainz will join Ferrari next season after agreeing a two-year deal back in May, replacing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
Ferrari is currently enduring a difficult season that sees it lie sixth in the constructors' championship, falling back from 2019 title rival Mercedes and behind the leading midfield teams.
This includes McLaren, Sainz's current team, which sits third in the standings, 32 points clear of Ferrari.
It has led to questions about Sainz's decision to leave McLaren, and a number of memes being created on social media making fun of the upcoming move.
But Sainz said he is laughing off the jokes that are put his way, and that he enjoys some of the humorous creations fans make about F1 drivers online.
"Honestly, they can laugh as much as they want," Sainz told Motorsport.com. "I think they are actually pretty funny, some of [the jokes].
"People have a lot of free time and they come up with these very funny ideas. And I actually laugh also.
"When the jokes are about me or the jokes are about the drivers, I'm the first one to laugh and I actually enjoy them.
"It doesn't mean that they are right or wrong, it's just they're funny. I guess that's what they pretend to be, so good on them."
Sainz has always stressed he feels no fear in moving to Ferrari, where he will partner two-time grand prix winner Charles Leclerc from next year.
Until the final race of the 2020 season, Sainz remains committed to helping McLaren to try and win the midfield fight for third place in the constructors' championship ahead of Racing Point and Renault.
Sainz's focus on this year is such that he is yet to find a place to live in Italy for when he moves to Ferrari, preferring to focus his energies on his current team.
"My team mainly, more than me, is trying to find a place," Sainz said. "As you know I'm still focused on my season this year.
"But as soon as the season is over and I'm thinking to next year, I will move to Italy when I find it convenient."
Related video
Previous article
Seidl: F1 doesn't need invitational races or gimmicks
Next article
COVID restrictions making new-track work harder for F1 teams
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Carlos Sainz Jr. |
| Teams | Scuderia Ferrari |
| Author | Luke Smith |
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
Eight things Red Bull must do to beat Mercedes in 2021
After seven years of defeat at the hands of Mercedes, Red Bull is as hungry as ever to secure a fifth world championship. But there are key challenges it must overcome in 2021 to switch from challenger to conqueror
