The story behind Carlos Sainz’s unicorn sticker at Baku that has taken the internet by storm

Carlos Sainz secured his first podium finish since joining Williams at the start of the season with a third-place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. But, aside from the celebrations, it is the unicorn sticker on the Spanish driver’s helmet and now the trophy, which has caught the attention of fans. 

The Grove outfit shared a video on 13 September of Sainz and his team-mate Alex Albon responding to fan questions. One young Sainz fan was seen holding her toy unicorn, asking him whether she should name it Sparkles or Sprinkles and if he would put a unicorn sticker on his helmet for the rest of the year. While he didn’t end up choosing a name – Albon opted for Sprinkles – Sainz confirmed that if she designed a sticker, he would wear it. 

Holding true to his word, Sainz arrived at the Baku City Circuit with the new addition to his helmet. After starting from P2 on the grid, he crossed the line to finish third behind race winner Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell. Verstappen pointed out the “new mascot” on the back of his helmet.

“It’s a unicorn,” Sainz responded. “A fan sent us this, I said I would wear it this weekend.”

Following the team celebrations, Williams shared another video of Sainz alongside team principal James Vowles, who confirmed that the sticker would remain for the rest of the season.

“There’s one more thing that is actually quite special,” Vowles said as he turned the trophy around to point to the sticker. “I’m pretty sure either Sparkles or Sprinkles had something to do with this as well at the same time. So, that’s staying, I assume, for a little while.”

Sainz added, “Until the end of the year, for sure.”

The P3 in Baku was not only Sainz’s first podium with the team but also the first Williams podium under Vowles’s leadership, after he joined the Grove outfit for the start of the 2023 season.

The podium saw Sainz move from 18th to 12th in the drivers’ standings. Williams continues to sit in fifth in the constructors’ standings but the 15-point finish means it is now 29 points ahead of Racing Bulls in sixth and 171 points behind Red Bull in fourth.

Photos from Azerbaijan GP – Race