Autosport Top 50 of 2023: #15 Carlos Sainz
7th in Formula 1 World Championship
Top 50 Drivers of 2023
Autosport's team of expert journalists got together to try to assess who were the top 50 drivers of 2023. Here are the results.
Carlos Sainz made the difference for Ferrari on its best chance to win all year in Singapore. His driving style – following front-end understeer naturally through a corner – was a boon for tyre preservation late in the lap there, and for Monza’s traction demands, where he was also brilliant. Without his nous in handing Lando Norris DRS late in Singapore, a Mercedes driver surely would have been victorious.
PLUS: The 10 best race drives of F1 2023
He has a 0.062s average qualifying deficit to team-mate Charles Leclerc, arguably F1’s best one-lap specialist, which is impressive.
Sainz was consistent and calm early in 2023, but the floor update from the Japanese GP too often led to a marked reversal in their race pace.
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