The Sainz family is in mourning. Antonio Sainz Rebollo, father of Carlos Sainz and grandfather of Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, has passed away. The businessman, who played a fundamental role in the career of his son and his grandson, has died at the age of 97.
It was Antonio, not being a big fan of cars, who bought the two-time rally champion and three-time Dakar champion the Renault 5, with which he went to university and started racing. In 1990 he accompanied his son in the Toyota Celica that allowed him to win the world championship. After the race he said: “I am speechless. I never thought that a human being could have such a mastery over a machine. That man is my son. I am very impressed.”
The Sainz patriarch was very close to his grandson, Carlos. So much so, that he has spent some of the most difficult moments of his life with him.
The Ferrari driver has always boasted of the good relationship he had with his grandfather. During the Carlos Sainz Jr. pandemic, he explained some of his experiences through a YouTube account.
“I haven’t seen my grandparents for three months since I went to Australia to race and when I returned it was the confinement. It’s time to go see them for the first time. You have to be very careful. My grandfather is crazy to take a walk with me on a tricycle. Let’s do it. I’m sure we’ll enjoy it,” the pilot explained excitedly.
Antonio has always been a successful businessman and is to blame for forming the most important and successful family in Spanish motorsports.
