Is Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 worth grading?
Racing · Racing Cards 2022 Topps Chrome Formula 1 · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
PSA 10 copies of Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 sell for $24.50, only $22.90 above the $1.60 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.30) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.60
- PSA 10
- $24.50
- PSA 9
- $11.30
- Gem premium
- 15×
- As of
- Sep 2, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $24.50 | −$2.10 | −$27.10 | −$127 |
| PSA 9 | $11.30 | −$15.30 | −$40.30 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.60 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $14.60 | −$37.00 |
| 50% | $17.90 | −$33.70 |
| 75% | $21.20 | −$30.40 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $32.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $24.50 | −$7.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $15.00 | −$17.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $15.00 | −$17.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2022 Topps Chrome Formula 1 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Charles Leclerc [Black & White RayWave] #25 2022 Topps Chrome Formula 1 card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~OUAAeSwW4NpdT5p/s-l500.jpg)
![Lance Stroll [Sapphire] #49 2022 Topps Chrome Formula 1 card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Po8AAeSwmpJqJ8cT/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 — FAQ
Is Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 worth grading?
PSA 10 copies of Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 sell for $24.50, only $22.90 above the $1.60 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.30) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
How much is a PSA 10 Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 (Racing Cards 2022 Topps Chrome Formula 1) sells for about $24.50 versus $1.60 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Sep 2, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $32.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $24.50. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Carlos Sainz [Refractor] #29 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your racing card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
