Carlos sainz
Sainz wins Dakar third stage as Al-Attiyah extends lead
While Sainz, 59 and a three-time Dakar winner, celebrated his 40th career stage win Nasser Al-Attiyah tightened his grip on the overall lead.
After reeling off seven consecutive constructors’ championships – and seven 'doubles' of team and driver titles - Hamilton’s 'black arrows' are under serious threat and both he and teammate Valtteri Bottas know it.
The 55-year-old Mini driver, aided by co-pilot Edouard Boulanger, finished ahead of Qatari Nasser al-Attiyah (Toyota), with Spain's Carlos Sainz rounding out the podium in another Mini.
Sunday’s race, the first of two in Austria on successive weekends, will be the latest start to a championship after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the scheduled Australian opener on 15 March before a wheel had turned.
Ferrari said 25-year-old Sainz, who replaces four times world champion Sebastian Vettel alongside young Monegasque Charles Leclerc at the sport’s most glamorous team, had signed for 2021 and 2022.
Vettel announced on Tuesday he was quitting the Italian Formula One team, triggering intense speculation as to who would be offered the dream drive alongside Charles Leclerc in 2021.
It's suggested that Carlos Sainz would replace Sebastian Vettel at Ferrar.
Norris, a rookie last year as Britain’s youngest F1 driver, and Spaniard Sainz both liked what they saw as the Renault-powered papaya and blue car was pushed out at the Woking factory.
Asked about defending his title next year Sainz said: 'It's too early to think about it, let me enjoy this.'
Frenchman Peterhansel won his fourth stage of this year's race in his Mini ahead of Toyota's Al-Attiyah in Haradh, and finished more than eight minutes ahead of overall leader Carlos Sainz.
Sainz took full advantage of navigational problems by closest rivals Nasser Al-Attiyah, the defending champion, and France's 'Mr. Dakar', Stephane Peterhansel.
Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel edged defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah by just 15 seconds to win stage nine of the Dakar Rally on Tuesday as pressure mounted on overall leader Carlos Sainz.
The highly-rated young Spaniard came home fourth on the road for McLaren in Sunday's tumultuous race, but was promoted to third when six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was penalised - and then made to wait while his own race was investigated.
Nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb also returns for the fourth time.
Carlos Sainz, father of the Renault Formula One driver of the same name, ended the penultimate 13th stage from San Juan to Cordoba with a lead.
Qatari driver Nasser al-Attiyah won the stage, a 375km timed special between Chilecito and San Juan in Argentina, in his Toyota with Sainz taking it easy and finishing 18 minutes behind.
Qatar’s two times Dakar winner Nasser al-Attiyah slipped to third overall in his Toyota, an hour and 12 minutes behind Sainz.
Sainz denied hitting any quadbikes during Saturday’s fourth stage and Peugeot indicated they would appeal.
Friday is a rest stage in La Paz.