【Carlos Sainz/Maria de Villota】The star still shines its light on other lives.

On July 3, 2012, María suffered a crash during a test session for the Marussia F1 team in the UK. She sustained severe head injuries, lost one eye, and with it, her dream of racing.

Ten years later, on the exact same day, Carlos Sainz, a driver she once mentored, claimed his first Formula 1 victory at Silverstone.

and then that’s them on the plane

post-race x 1655

...two drivers with versions of the same first name becoming teammates at the most successful/historic F1 team

...two drivers who both replaced the person at Ferrari whose number they wanted to race under but couldn't bc it was taken

...two drivers who both lost mentor figures in their adolescence and still carry tributes to them on their helmets

...two drivers, one more instinct-driven (and a little impatient) who would rather end up in the wall than feel he's left any pace on the table, the other more data-driven and strategy focused who likes to gradually build up his weekend, complementing each other

...two drivers whose last names trace back to 'clerk' and 'saint', both words with holy/religious connotation

...two drivers, one who’s been tasked with living up to his mentor’s legacy and the ‘il predestinato’ nickname, and the other, his father’s legacy in motorsport

...two drivers whose ability to push each other so hard competitively yet remain friends off track regularly baffled Nico Rosberg

…two drivers who were 'intensely preoccupied with what the other one was doing' throughout their years as teammates

...two drivers who could share one look after a track battle/disagreement and understand one another instantly

...two drivers who have both sited the off-track moments they shared together as what they will miss most about being teammates