As Carlos Sainz and compatriot Fernando Alonso gear up for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Spanish Formula 1 driver has expressed his immense pride for Spain’s sporting exports.
Despite the pressures of the current season and Ferrari’s struggles, Sainz has been performing brilliantly, outshining his high-profile teammate Charles Leclerc.
While Sainz has not added to his maiden grand prix victory at Silverstone last season, he remains Spain’s most recent race winner, with Alonso still on the hunt for his 33rd win.
However, it was another Spanish athlete, tennis wonderkid Carlos Alcaraz, who dominated the headlines in the past week by securing his second grand slam title at Wimbledon.
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“Just proud I guess, proud for my country,” Sainz shared with the media ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“We seem to have this relatively small population for a country like Spain.
“We still seem to produce some good athletes out there, since Rafa [Nadal], Fernando [Alonso], basketball team is always good, football team is always good.”
The Spanish driver highlighted the strong tradition of producing talented athletes across various sports, with tennis phenom Rafael Nadal, two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, and successful basketball and football teams making their mark on the international stage.
Sainz also acknowledged the recent triumph of Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon, defeating tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
“We seem to be doing well in sports and now with golf, tennis also again with Alcaraz,” he said.
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“It’s a good time to be Spanish and to follow sports because you have a lot of fans on the TV watching every Sunday someone win or someone doing well, or someone to support and be excited about.”
The Spanish sporting success has fostered a sense of national pride, with fans across the country passionately supporting their athletes in various competitions.
Sainz shared his pride for his country and the athletes they continue to produce, contributing to a collective celebration of sporting excellence.