Sainz hoping for “last laugh” after endless jokes over Ferrari move

Carlos Sainz is hoping to “have the last laugh” when he joins Ferrari next year after spending much of this season fending off an endless barrage of jokes about his future team’s slump in form.

The Spaniard, who will race alongside Charles Leclerc as a replacement for Aston Martin-bound Sebastian Vettel in 2021, announced his future move from McLaren in May, two months before this year’s delayed season began.

But while McLaren has risen up the ranks, Ferrari faces its worst championship result in decades, leaving Sainz to try and keep smiling in the face of jokes from team-mate Lando Norris, his garage and fans on social media.

“I am taking it very easy going,” said Sainz. ahead of this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix. “There are jokes here and there, jokes in social media, jokes everywhere, but I’m not worried, not taking it very seriously.

“Hopefully I am the one that has the last laugh next year. We will see.”

Sainz, who has raced for Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren over six seasons, scored a career-best second place at the Italian GP in September, and is helping McLaren in the race for third place in the constructors’ championship.

Ferrari, meanwhile, is sixth and while they are only 36 points off McLaren’s 116-point tally, their performances have been alarming, with no podium finishes since the fourth race of the year at the British GP.

Asked at the Italian GP in September, whether he would miss his team-mate next season, Norris quipped: "I’ll still see him around. When I’m passing (him) on the race track, I can wave at him.”

Sainz, though, is adamant he has a thick skin, adding: “I am easy going, I accept jokes - and when I can, I joke back.”

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