A Former Teammate's Insight: Carlos Sainz Predicts Lando Norris Will 'Love' the Revamped Abu Dhabi Track

You know, there's always something special about a driver's intuition, especially when it comes from someone who knows you intimately on the track. That's precisely what we're seeing as Carlos Sainz, now with Ferrari, casts a rather intriguing prediction about his former McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, and his upcoming performance at the revised Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Sainz, who partnered with Norris for two seasons, has quite a strong hunch that the young Briton is going to absolutely adore the updated layout. And frankly, why wouldn't he? It's all about matching a driver's unique style with the nuances of a circuit, isn't it? "I think Lando will love the track," Sainz stated quite clearly, and when a driver of his caliber makes such a definitive claim, you pay attention.

So, what's changed at Yas Marina, and why does Sainz feel it's such a perfect fit for Norris? Well, the circuit has undergone some significant alterations. The tight, slow-speed chicanes that once characterized sectors one and three have been either removed or dramatically eased. What we're left with is a faster, much more flowing track. We're talking about more high-speed corners, sweeping arcs, and generally a layout that encourages confidence and rhythm rather than stop-start braking and acceleration.

Sainz elaborates, saying, "We know that Lando likes those kinds of flowing corners. He likes to extract lap time from corners that are not too slow-speed, and he’s really, really good in those medium, high-speed corners." It’s a testament to his understanding of Norris’s driving DNA. Lando has always had a knack for carrying incredible speed through fast sections, often finding grip where others might hesitate. This revised Abu Dhabi track, with its emphasis on flow and sustained speed, plays directly into that strength.

It's an exciting prospect, really. One can almost picture Lando attacking those new, quicker sections with his characteristic verve. For McLaren, and indeed for Norris himself, this insight from Sainz could be a subtle but significant confidence booster heading into a crucial race. If Sainz's prediction holds true, we could be in for a fantastic show from Norris, potentially solidifying his reputation as a master of fast, flowing circuits. Only time will tell, but it certainly adds an extra layer of intrigue to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.