There are a few drivers who appear to be in the best form of their Formula 1 careers right now.
Visa Cash App RB will be delighted with Yuki Tsunoda as he leads the team during his fourth F1 campaign, while Nico Hulkenberg may have surprised himself by scoring points in back-to-back races.
Speaking on the Formula For Success Podcast, David Coulthard highlighted another performance in Melbourne that really caught his eye.
When both Mercedes failed to finish the race, that opened up two points-paying spots for the slower teams.
But it was the retirement of Max Verstappen that was much more important for Red Bull’s rivals as it presented what’s becoming more and more of a unique opportunity to win a Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz took full advantage and David Coulthard was blown away by his performance at the Australian Grand Prix.
He took his third F1 victory in his 188 race just a couple of weeks after an appendectomy and his with future beyond 2024 still undecided, he showed the rest of the grid why he deserved a seat at a top team for next year.
David Coulthard blown away by Carlos Sainz at the Australian Grand Prix
It’s impossible to imagine the strain Carlos Sainz was putting his body under in Melbourne just two weeks after having major surgery.
Oliver Bearman performed brilliantly in his absence in Saudi Arabia and was on hand to race for Ferrari again in Australia if required.
However, Sainz would have been desperate to get back in the car for several reasons.
Firstly, he’s naturally competitive otherwise he would never have reached Formula 1 in the first place.
Secondly, he’s only got 21 more opportunities to show the rest of the paddock why they should offer him a contract for 2025.
But finally and likely the main reason was that Ferrari have finally built a car that appeared capable of competing with Red Bull and the chance of regularly challenging for podiums and wins couldn’t be turned down.
That’s exactly what Sainz did at the Australian Grand Prix and he left Coulthard and many others amazed by his performance.
Carlos Sainz proves he’s one of F1 fastest drivers in Melbourne
Talking about the 29-year-old, Coulthard said: “What a performance from Carlos Sainz. He’s only done two Grand Prix this year.
“Obviously took time out in Saudi to have his appendix removed, he’s started so well.
“He just seems like a demon behind the wheel right now and I wonder how much of that is just being happy in his life prior to the information that he was going to be replaced by Lewis Hamilton and how much of it is that he’s now fighting for the best seat he can possibly get outside of a Ferrari?”
Who could Carlos Sainz drive for next season?
There will soon be teams lining up to try and sign Sainz based on his performance at the Australian Grand Prix, with Coulthard’s colleague Eddie Jordan previously suggesting he’s aiming to drive for Red Bull next year.
Red Bull is certainly a possibility with Sergio Perez entering the last year of his deal and Max Verstappen’s future suddenly uncertain as well.
However, there’s a chance that Max Verstappen’s camp might block a move for Sainz given how quick he currently is.
Mercedes is also an option for Sainz and a straight swap with Lewis Hamilton may appeal to the Spaniard.
He’s also on Audi’s radar ahead of their entry into Formula 1 in 2026, but given Sauber’s current struggles, that might not be particularly appealing right now.
The post ‘What a performance’: David Coulthard says 188-race driver is a ‘demon behind the wheel’ right now appeared first on F1 Oversteer.