Derek Bell thinks 25-podium F1 driver never looks comfortable in the rain after Sao Paulo Grand Prix

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The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was one of the trickiest Formula 1 races in some time with all 20 drivers tested to their limits in treacherous conditions.

Max Verstappen produced a drive for the ages, coming from 17th on the grid to win comfortably ahead of both Alpine drivers.

It all but secured the Dutchman’s fourth world championship and a victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix will earn him that coveted title.

Lando Norris couldn’t convert pole position into a much-needed win after being caught out by an ill-timed red flag.

However, he at least kept his car on track – aside from a one-off at the final safety car restart – which can’t be said for many of his rivals.

Former F1 driver Derek Bell was speaking on the Drive to Wynn Podcast and noted a driver who took him by surprise with his lack of ability in the rain.

It was a frustrating weekend for Ferrari as they watched McLaren extend their lead at the top of the Constructors’ Championship.

Charles Leclerc drove well to finish just off the podium, but Carlos Sainz suffered two expensive crashes in one day.

Sainz was seen mouthing what was wrong with his Ferrari after hitting barriers in Q2, before spinning again during the race.

Bell has questioned why the 25-time podium driver isn’t better in the wet considering his father is a heralded rally driver.

Derek Bell questions Carlos Sainz’s ability in the rain after the Brazilian Grand Prix

Podcast host Justin Bell mentioned that Ferrari didn’t look comfortable throughout the race weekend in Sao Paulo and Derek Bell replied: “No, [and] the weirdest thing was they said after, I think that Sprint Race, they said we’re pretty much set up for rain conditions.

“So we were all expecting that they’d set it up for rain, but they really didn’t have too much of it when they were out there.

“So I’d really expected them to fly in the rain. However, I don’t know how good Sainz is in the rain and I was trying to analyze it today and I thought, I haven’t seen him in the rain necessarily before.

“And his father was a rally driver, now they spend their time sideways, so, it must be some genes in him that is used to being sideways.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

“He’s done some brilliant drives this year. Well, I’m full of admiration for him.

“But he’s obviously not very happy in the rain in a race car and I can’t say why that is, I can’t say why the Ferrari wasn’t as good as it should have been.

“But they obviously didn’t set the car up properly for those conditions.”

The role Carlos Sainz’s family played in Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari

Sainz only has three races left at Ferrari before he joins Williams for the 2025 season.

During his time with the Scuderia, he has helped improve the team to the point where they still have a chance of winning the Constructors’ Championship this year and will be one of the favourites next year.

​​READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

However, he won’t be able to benefit from his hard work and will instead hand his seat over to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Toto Wolff has shared that Sainz’s father first told him about Hamilton’s move, presumably because Sainz had just been informed himself that he wouldn’t be retained for 2025.

Sainz has driven brilliantly this year, winning in Australia and Mexico City, but he’ll be hoping next season is mainly spent driving in the dry.