Carlos Sainz has been considering retirement for the past few years. When asked about it since winning his third Mini title in 2020, his answer has always been the same. “After the Dakar, I’m going to look in the mirror and ask myself, ‘Did I have fun? Did I compete as hard as I could?’ There are answers to all of those questions. If I test positive, I’ll continue next year.”. He repeated the same thing a few weeks ago before his trip to Dakar 2026, although he admitted it was his last Dakar. “It’s close.”for obvious reasons. He is 63 years old.

A few days ago, Carlos himself published on his social networks a video of the stress test he always takes before every Dakar. The user was impressed by the muscle mass in his upper core, especially his shoulders and chest.

“Matador”, having gone through maximum preparations that combined the body of an athlete who has already passed several decades, was able to achieve something unthinkable for most people at the age of 63. He will continue to do his best and compete against the best in his bid to win his fifth Dakar victory, which will extend his record of wins with four different brands and his record as the oldest champion (61 years old in 2024).

Will that continue after the Dakar in 2026? no one knows the answer. Perhaps Carlos himself doesn’t know about her yet. But for now, Dakar Rally director David Castella said in a joint interview with Spanish media at his bivouac in Yanbu:we have chosen to increase the likelihood that your withdrawal will arrive by the end of this appointment. But even if Sainz were to withdraw due to an issue unrelated to driving, Castella suggested the Spaniard would not want to retire in such a manner and would pursue a different course.

“I hear that a lot…but this year there may be more than last year. Yeah, I don’t know, I feel a little like that, I might be wrong, However, I believe this year’s results will help me make a decision. That’s my opinion, but I haven’t talked to him about it. But the truth is, if it doesn’t end, if there’s a problem, you won’t know… But he has surprised me many times… With the will of a young man of 30 years, it is clear that he is something different. ”answered the MD’s question.

“I don’t think many drivers at his age can be at this level. It’s certainly possible to compete in the Dakar at 60 years old, but to finish 50th or 60th… But Carlos, no, at this age he’s ahead of everyone.” So I really believe that not everyone can. You have to have a will. Look, Stefan (Peterhansel) didn’t do that. “Peter Hansel is different from Carlos, so we changed the category (he is currently competing in the stock race with a production car).”added to the paper.

“Stefan loves the Dakar so much that he’s not here to win, but he came back here in a different way, because the Dakar is a lot of pressure. But Carlos likes this pressure. That’s not true. Carlos never intended to stay in Dakar just to compete. Never. It gives you a completely different perspective on the Dakar. But if I were like 63-year-old Carlos, I’d sign the papers for you right now and be very happy. I don’t think there are many people who can reach this level at this age. He trains a lot and he’s doing it at 63 years old, so… respect. ” In this regard, he praised Sainz’s special sensibilities when it comes to suspension and performance pursuits, before praising the work he does outside the car, his meticulous work down to the smallest detail, and why he is considered one of the best car developers in the history of the World Rally Championship and the Dakar.

“I know him very well (we met at Peugeot, where Castella was my co-driver). The only thing is that I have never been in a car with him. We have never driven many kilometers with him. I spent three years with him, with the whole team, and that allowed me to get to know him better. Carlos is a perfectionist.Or I’ve seen it in training. “He follows everything and asks a lot of questions…He’s a very good professional.”Castella concluded.