Scuderia Ferrari continues to struggle this Formula 1 season. After seventeen rounds, the team has yet to secure a single victory and lags behind three rivals in terms of speed. Amid these challenges, former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has highlighted the so-called “Carlos Sainz effect,” which, in his view, manifests as a dip in team performance following the Spanish driver’s departure.
Villeneuve notes that Sainz has a noticeable impact on the atmosphere and operations within any team he joins. According to him, the Spaniard needs some time to adapt, but even during this period, he helps improve communication among staff and aids the team’s progress. This trend, the Canadian believes, has been evident in every team where Sainz has competed.
Particular attention is given to how Sainz influences his teammates. Villeneuve believes his team partners often gain speed thanks to their joint work. As an example, he refers to Charles Leclerc, who was Sainz’s teammate at Ferrari. In Villeneuve’s opinion, throughout their time together, Leclerc did not have a clear advantage, contrary to popular belief among fans.
A Canadian expert emphasizes that after Sainz leaves a team, its performance usually declines. He attributes this to the fact that the Spaniard not only adapts quickly but also leaves behind a solid foundation for future work, which is not always maintained without his involvement. According to Villeneuve, Ferrari is currently experiencing just such a downturn.
In his new team Williams, Sainz has already become a key figure. Despite a lack of significant success in the first part of the season, his role in the team is considered strategically important. Villeneuve believes the Spaniard is seen at Williams as a creator, able to unite the team and take it to a new level. The expert notes that such changes raise questions about the consequences of losing such a driver for any team.
