Electric Cars

Rally driver Dani Sordo recently announced a significant change to his team for the upcoming World Rally Championship (WRC) season finale in Sardinia. He will be joined by a new co-driver, Patricia Saiz, a move that has garnered considerable attention. Saiz, who has previously worked with Sordo in national competitions, is stepping up to the premier WRC stage for the first time, marking a pivotal moment in her career. Sordo has expressed confidence in his new partner, citing her clear pace notes and focus as key advantages. The team's primary objective for the Sardinia rally is to secure a podium finish, an achievement Sordo has realized twice before on the challenging Sardinian terrain. This event also carries a bittersweet note, as it will be the final appearance of the Rally1 cars, a class that has brought Hyundai Motorsport considerable success.

Patricia Saiz, deeply enthusiastic about her WRC debut, views this opportunity as the realization of a long-held dream. Her journey to this point is a testament to her hard work and dedication in the sport. Following the Sardinia rally, Saiz will continue her collaboration with Sordo at the Rally Legend event in San Marino, further cementing her role within his team. Her ascent to the highest level of rallying underscores the increasing opportunities for talented individuals in the sport, particularly for those who demonstrate exceptional skill and determination. The partnership between Sordo and Saiz highlights a blend of veteran experience and emerging talent, creating an intriguing dynamic for the final WRC round.

Sordo's Strategic Co-Driver Change for Rally Sardinia

Dani Sordo, a seasoned competitor in the World Rally Championship, has opted for a fresh partnership with Patricia Saiz for the final event of the 2026 season in Sardinia. This decision introduces a new dynamic to the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 team, as Saiz steps into the demanding role of co-driver for her WRC debut. Sordo's choice is rooted in his prior experience with Saiz in national rallies, where he found her pace notes to be exceptionally clear and her focus unwavering. This precision is crucial in the fast-paced and unpredictable environment of WRC, enabling Sordo to maintain heightened concentration. While acknowledging the bittersweet departure of his former co-driver, Candido Carrera, Sordo emphasized the continued positive relationship they share. The switch to Saiz is a calculated move designed to optimize performance and leverage a partnership that has already demonstrated its effectiveness in less competitive settings, preparing them for the intense challenges of the WRC finale.

The Rally Sardinia holds a special significance for Dani Sordo, who boasts two previous victories on its technical and narrow stages in 2019 and 2020. He describes the rally as one he particularly enjoys, citing the unique energy it provides. His personal connection and past successes in Sardinia fuel his ambition for a strong finish this year. With Saiz by his side, Sordo is setting his sights on nothing less than a podium position, aiming to conclude the season on a high note. Beyond the competitive aspect, this rally also marks the end of an era for the Rally1 cars, a class that has been instrumental in Hyundai Motorsport's achievements. Sordo's reflections on this impending change convey a sense of nostalgia for the Rally1 vehicles, recognizing their contribution to the sport and his team's legacy. This final event therefore represents both a new beginning with Saiz and a farewell to a significant chapter in WRC history, imbuing it with layers of emotional and professional importance.

Patricia Saiz's WRC Debut and Future Aspirations

Patricia Saiz's promotion to co-driver for Dani Sordo at the WRC season finale in Sardinia is a landmark achievement, realizing what she describes as "the ultimate dream" for any ambitious individual in rallying. Her journey to the top tier of the sport is the culmination of persistent effort and a deep-seated passion. Saiz's previous experience navigating for Sordo in national rallies, including a commendable fourth-place overall finish and a victory in the RGT class at Belgium’s Ypres Rally, provided her with invaluable preparation and demonstrated her capabilities. This background, coupled with Sordo's trust, has paved the way for her significant step onto the global stage. Saiz's ascent highlights a growing trend of talent rising through the ranks, proving that dedication and skill are recognized and rewarded in the highly competitive world of professional rallying. Her enthusiastic embrace of this challenge underscores her readiness and commitment to excel at the highest level.

Looking beyond her WRC debut in Sardinia, Patricia Saiz is set to continue her partnership with Dani Sordo at the prestigious Rally Legend event in San Marino the following weekend. This continued collaboration indicates a strong and promising future for the pair, suggesting that their co-driver relationship is intended to be a long-term commitment. Saiz's sentiments, shared on social media, reveal her profound gratitude to Sordo for the opportunity and his unwavering trust in her abilities. She emphasizes that such opportunities do not arise by chance, but are earned through consistent hard work and readiness. Her resolute declaration to "fight to the max for the podium" reflects not only her competitive spirit but also her clear understanding of the immense responsibility placed upon her. This commitment, combined with her evident talent, positions Patricia Saiz as a rising star in the rallying world, poised to make a significant impact alongside Dani Sordo.

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar has openly shared the details behind his unexpected six-week hiatus from Formula 1 during the 2026 summer break. The talented driver revealed he suffered a wrist fracture while engaging in boxing training, an incident that forced him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and prompted significant adjustments in the driver lineups for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls.

Isack Hadjar's Revelation: A Wrist Injury from Boxing Sidelines F1 Driver

During the 2026 Formula 1 summer interval, Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar sustained a wrist injury during a boxing session, leading to his withdrawal from competition for a period of six weeks. This unfortunate event compelled him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix held at Zandvoort and caused a significant rearrangement of driver assignments for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls. The specific nature of his injury remained a subject of considerable speculation within the racing community until Hadjar himself provided clarity.

Initial reports at Zandvoort suggested a boxing-related injury, although Hadjar chose not to confirm these rumors at the time. It was only after his impressive podium finish at the Baku race last weekend that he publicly addressed the matter. Expressing his relief at returning to the track, Hadjar commented, "It's been a while... I felt like I had a full winter break, which is certainly not ideal in the midst of a season." He added, with a touch of humor, "I definitely missed the adrenaline, the intensity of Q3 laps, and the race restarts. It's fantastic to be back competing against fellow drivers, and I hope to be more mindful during my boxing training sessions moving forward."

Previously, Hadjar had maintained a discreet silence regarding the injury's specifics. However, in Baku, he elaborated, describing it as "a minor fracture on the exterior of the wrist, a condition that demands a lengthy recovery process." This clarification debunked earlier rumors suggesting a fractured scaphoid, which is situated on the inner side of the wrist, near the thumb. Wrist injuries, particularly those involving carpal bones, are notoriously slow to heal due to the constant motion and stress placed on the area, even outside of strenuous activities. Medical professionals typically advise a six-week immobilization period in a splint to facilitate proper healing, making Hadjar's prompt return to the cockpit a testament to his determination, despite likely experiencing residual discomfort for several more weeks.

This incident highlights the fine line athletes walk between maintaining peak physical condition and the risks associated with intense training regimens. Hadjar's experience serves as a vivid reminder that even seasoned professionals can face unexpected setbacks, and that the path to recovery often requires immense patience and disciplined adherence to medical advice. His candidness about the injury, and his humorous take on it, also offered a glimpse into the human side of competitive racing, reinforcing the idea that behind every helmet is an individual navigating challenges both on and off the track.