F1 Star Carlos Sainz reveals that he still drives a 12-year-old hatchback over a million dollar supercars

• Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainzi Volkswagen gave his parents for the first time.
• Its Modest 13,500 USD Volkswagen Golf GTI It was launched in the garage for six years.
• The loyalty of the Spanish rider to humble golf led the F1 in the middle of a supercar culture in social media.

Being a part of a sport that is built on speed, accuracy and many excess, Carlos Sainzi's The favorite car is… golf. Not a FerrariTo. Not a MclarenTo. 2012. MK6 Volkswagen Golf GTI. And he couldn't be more proud of it.

While most Formula 1 The drivers are surrounded by the best-clicked Italian exotic, V12-support beasts and customized machines that make super car collectors cry, Sainz remains loyal to a modest hatch of $ 13,500 USD and has been owned for 12 years since his parents were 18th birthday.

From memes to meaningful memory

Sainz even recently even It took golf to twist after it was six years in his garage, showing that the car is clearly more than just a means of transport – a pampered piece of his personal history.

Golf became a bit of meme during the F1 press conference in 2016. As other drivers listed their impressive car collections, names like Ferrari, Porsche and Merecedes accidentally overthrown, Sainz rushed with simple: “I have golf.”

Internet. The clip became viral and for many F1 fans he became a favorite. Here was a cutting -edge driver who had something but was still rolled with something that many of us can relate to. Although Sainz has added a couple of enviable machines to its garage over the years – Ferrari Roma, Mercedes AMG GT, McLaren 600 from the Spider – its affection for golf has never faded because it is a gift from his parents.

A gift that continues to give

“I've been a Formula for 1 eight or nine years, and as my own car, I have what my parents gave me at the age of 18 – golf,” Sainz shared with pride. His statement is a reminder that not all meaningful possession has to have a six -digit price tag, especially in the world of motorsport, where the luxury and surplus are the norm.

And technically, the 2012 GTI is not sloppy. Comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged internal-four, which kicks 200 horsepower and torque 207 pounds. With a manual gearbox, it is a good 0-60 miles per hour for just over six seconds and manages the honorable fuel saving in the city 21 MPG and on the highway 31. But for Sainz, golf specifications are probably not much important, given the mind.

More than just another hot hatch

Of course, Sainz is not the only one who kept GTI close to heart. It has long been one of the European favorite cars – not only among enthusiasts, but even among royalties. Kate Middleton, now the princess of Wales, drove one before the royal days. And it is easy to see why. It is fun to drive, reasonably practical, and walks between the sporty and reasonable, as few others can. In some ways, it makes Sainz a perfect reflection – fast when it matters when it matters.

Although the rest of the F1 lattice can trade keys to a million dollar supercares, Carlos Sainz still pulls his golf out of the garage, proving that sometimes the best cars aren't the most expensive-these are the ones with the story.