Formula 1 fans online gave Carlos Sainz the smooth operator tag because it matched his calm driving style and composed personality, and the label stuck across race weekends, fan edits and social media. The phrase also recalls Sade's classic song of the same name, which gives the meme its laid-back, confident feel. As Sainz continued to deliver precise overtakes and strong results, creators kept using the sound to frame him as the grid's coolest operator, keeping it popular long after individual races ended.