It took 150 races, but Carlos Sainz finally got his long-dreamed-of victory in Formula 1, and the script of the British GP on Sunday (3) was full of tension and great battles until the last corner. The driver celebrated a lot still in the car and was all smiles on the podium wrapped around the Spanish flag.

Sainz had to fight hard to finish the race on the highest place of the podium. Starting from the pole-position, he lost the lead to Max Verstappen in the first corner, but a heavy accident involving several cars behind him brought out the red flag. According to the regulations, there was a new starting procedure with the cars in their original positions, and this time the Spaniard sold his overtaking, giving no chances to the Dutchman from Red Bull.

Carlos Sainz (Foto: AFP) — Carlos Sainz (Photo: AFP)

"I don't know what to say, it's incredible," Sainz said at the end of the race. "The first win after 150 races, and with Ferrari at Silverstone. I have nothing more to ask for. It's a very special day, a day I will never forget. It's a very special weekend overall," added the driver.

Sainz had a good fight with teammate Charles Leclerc and then Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. But the safety-car at the end caused by Esteban Ocon opened the chance for the Spaniard to risk the soft compounds and go for all or nothing, and the strategy was a sure shot. With the red stripe tires, Sainz left Leclerc behind and retook the first position.

"Lewis was in the fight today, but we managed to hold him off," said the driver, explaining afterwards that he also had problems with the car's balance, especially in the first stint, with the medium compounds. "Max forced us to push hard at high speed," he said.

"Even with all that, I kept believing that I could still win. Then, suddenly, the safety-car gave me the opportunity to get back in the game. You can already imagine the nerves getting under control after the win," Sainz concluded.