Motorsport TechnologyMasha Krylova: We have Carlos Sainz here with us, a Formula 1 driver for Scuderia Toro Rosso. Carlos, thank you for your time. It’s your second time in Brazil, what are your thoughts about this track?
Carlos Sainz: Yes, my second race in Brazil. Last year we had a lot of reliability issues, but this year, hopefully, we got rid of them. It’s not a track that favors our car, but anyway, we are here to enjoy, to have fun, and have a good race tomorrow, knowing there is a chance of rain also.
Masha Krylova: Talking about rain, your team posted your quote where you say that you’re going to do a rain dance?
Carlos Sainz: At the movement, it’s very tricky for us to get into points, and it’s not that the rain is going to help us to be one second per lap faster than the others. But the rain opens more possibilities. Safety car and other chaos could give us give us an opportunity to get closer to the points. Without the rain, it could be difficult.
Masha Krylova: Let’s hope for the rain! What are your plans for the time between the seasons, before season 2017 starts next year?
Carlos Sainz: Normally, in December we have a lot of functions. Award nights, team dinners, Christmas parties with sponsors, time with families. But this year is going to be a little different. Next year 2017 is an important year for our team, so I will need to start training a little earlier and focus a little more on the physical side. So, December will also include that preparation.
Masha Krylova: Now, regarding your activity on social networks. Recently you posted a picture of you and Daniil Kvyat from about six years ago. You’ve known each other since you were teenagers, and now you are in the same team. Tell us more about your friendship.
Carlos Sainz: Yes, we’ve known since we were 13 years old. We’ve always shared the same dream — to become Formula 1 drivers one day. Nine years later, one in a million chances, we’ve remained good mates, and we are now on the same team, Toro Rosso. We’ve been teammates in many other categories — GP3, Formula Renault, Formula BMW — but the main thing is that we are now both in Formula 1 and we have both achieved our dreams.
Masha Krylova: Talking about social media again, do you post your status updates yourself?
Carlos Sainz: Yes, whenever you see something on Twitter or Facebook, it’s me doing my own status updates. I think it’s the right way for the fans. I like being close, straightforward and loyal to my fans. It’s the platform that I use to communicate with them. Hopefully, they enjoy it.
Masha Krylova: Do you post a lot of pictures?
Carlos Sainz: No, I’m not a picture guy! I have a friend who always takes a lot of pictures, and I say, “Why do you take pictures of everything?” I don’t like pictures — I don’t know why! But in the end, I have to ask others for some, so that I can post them.
Masha Krylova: What information do you keep on your phone that you’d never want to lose?
Carlos Sainz: Contacts. With the number of people I know now, if I lose all these contacts, it will be difficult to gather them again. My contacts are the most valuable part on the phone at the moment.
Masha Krylova: Thank you very much for this short conversation! One last thing, as I told Franz and Daniil, we at Acronis, have our own Formula 1 competition. Our offices in the U.S., Singapore, Germany, and Russia, have Toro Rosso racing car simulators. Our employees either chose to be you or Daniel, or compete against each other. Can you give us some racing advice?
Carlos Sainz: Main thing — have fun! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself because it causes you make mistakes. Have fun, and push, push a lot!
Masha Krylova: Thank you!
(The interview has been edited for clarity purposes).
Craig Scarborough
Fraser Masefield