Carlos Sainz had a well-recognized ex-F1 driver helping him from inside his Williams storage at pre-season Bahrain testing.
Sainz is a high-profile recruit from Ferrari for James Vowles’ workforce who will type an thrilling driver duo with Alex Albon this yr.
Throughout Sainz’s working at Bahrain on Wednesday, consideration turned to an sudden determine serving to his engineers.
Sky Sports activities’ Ted Kravitz reported: “I used to be ready to see what the Sainz affect can be at Williams, when it comes to the temper and the vibe.
“What I discovered fascinating was that not solely have you ever received Carlos Sainz Senior, contemporary off the Dakar Rally, a disgrace for him that it couldn’t be longer, in the back of the storage with a head-set on.
“But additionally it’s fascinating: the affect of Roberto Merhi.
“Keep in mind Roberto Merhi? A former System 1 driver who drove again within the 2010s, he didn’t have a very lengthy profession.
“He has a secondary place as a mate of Sainz’s. He’s at all times across the place, with Sainz Senior.”
Roberto Merhi serving to Carlos Sainz and Williams
Merhi is a Spanish racing driver who first appeared in F1 in 2014 for the Caterham workforce.
A yr later he drove for Marussia, ending the 2015 championship in nineteenth place with a greatest results of P13 in Russia.
Kravitz continued: “Merhi isn’t just standing and watching. He’s really speaking to the engineers, understanding loads, performing as a second pair of eyes for Sainz to know the automobile and the best way that Williams work.
“He will be of use to Sainz, in addition to simply his mate.
“I ponder if Williams are permitting Sainz extra latitude than he was used to at Ferrari, when the drivers’ gangs have been saved extra separate from the engineers.”
Alex Brundle added about Merhi: “Well-known for wanting the automobile tremendous low and stiff! I shared a few sportscars with him, an excellent driver.
“The final time I noticed him? We sprayed water and Motorland Aragon to do a tyre check.
“It’s fascinating to permit drivers to have a second set of eyes within the paddock.
“If there’s a driver who’s a trusted buddy, an ally, a countryman, and never a menace to you, he will be there within the storage to assist.
“It does assist to have a mate in the back of the storage, because it does to have an ally within the engineering room, to provide an outdoor perspective.”
