Mika Hakkinen says there’s one ‘incredible’ thing about Carlos Sainz right now

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F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen has picked out one ‘incredible’ thing about Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.

Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix last time out to deny Max Verstappen a record-equalling 10th consecutive victory.

And Hakkinen, who won the championship in both 1998 and 1999, took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the Spaniard.

Sainz had missed the previous race in Saudi Arabia after contracting appendicitis, which led to him undergoing surgery.

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

It wasn’t clear whether the 29-year-old would be able to race at all, with junior driver Oliver Bearman once again on standby.

But Sainz ultimately out-qualified teammate Charles Leclerc on Saturday and then passed the ailing Red Bull of Verstappen in the early part of the race.

Verstappen had to retire when his brake issue worsened, and Sainz subsequently drove a controlled race to lead home a Ferrari one-two ahead of Leclerc.

He’s the only non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix since the start of 2023, having also stood on the top step of the podium last autumn in Singapore.

Mika Hakkinen can’t believe Carlos Sainz doesn’t have a seat

Hakkinen is stunned that Sainz finds himself without a drive for the 2025 season as it stands.

Ferrari opted to axe him after signing Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, placing their faith in Leclerc instead.

Sainz, one of the fastest drivers on the grid in the eyes of the Finn, will be fired up after the Scuderia’s decision.

Hakkinen wrote: “It is incredible that Carlos Sainz Jr, Australian GP winner, does not currently have a drive for next season.

“It means that one of F1’s quickest and most consistent performers is now available to Mercedes, Aston Martin and Red Bull.

“He must be very motivated in [the] Japanese GP.”

Who will Carlos Sainz drive for next year?

Sainz came into F1 via the Red Bull young driver programme, starting out at Toro Rosso before he left for Renault in 2017.

Red Bull director Helmut Marko admitted that his early-season form is ‘fascinating’ as the team consider whether to renew Sergio Perez’s deal.

In addition to his victory in Melbourne, Sainz also bagged the driver of the day award at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after finishing third.

Privately, team principal Christian Horner is apparently more interested in a reunion with Sainz than colleague Marko.

However, there are fears that Verstappen’s camp could potentially stand in the way of a move after their close rivalry at Toro Rosso.

Red Bull may also be inclined to wait until the summer to make a final call on their line-up, which could be too long a delay for Sainz.

One insider thinks a move to Mercedes to directly replace Hamilton could be more straightforward.

Pundit Marc Priestley reckons Toto Wolff will be ‘looking at’ Sainz off the back of his Australia heroics.

Elsewhere, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll holds an interest in the former McLaren man, and former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan wouldn’t be ‘surprised’ to see him racing in green.

Williams have also held talks with his management, while 2026 entrants Audi (who will buy Sauber) are a long-standing option.