Carlos Sainz thinks Ferrari’s current challenges in Components 1 might be a consequence of its newest improve package deal triggering issues in high-speed corners.
The Maranello-based outfit has endured two tough weekends on the trot, the place it has discovered itself behind Pink Bull, McLaren and Mercedes.
And though the Spaniard managed to safe fourth on the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix, he is aware of that the tempo of his SF-24 is being hampered by the identical high-speed bouncing that the workforce struggled with in Spain.
Because the workforce begins to analyse what has occurred to its kind, having began the 12 months as Pink Bull’s closest challenger, Sainz means that the improve package deal it delivered in Barcelona might have delivered some unintended penalties.
Whereas it seems to have helped produce extra downforce at a sure pace vary, Sainz says that could be of little profit if the workforce has misplaced lap time elsewhere.
“I believe we see it working in all of the locations the place we now have no bouncing, however then if you happen to set off bouncing within the high-speed and you must again off, then possibly what you win in some locations you lose within the different,” defined Sainz.
“And the extra high-speed content material there may be at a observe, clearly that commerce goes in direction of being worse for that circuit as a result of the extra high-speed you could have, clearly the slower you might be.
“It’s not splendid, however the workforce is pushing flat out again at residence to attempt to clear up the problem and see how we will come again stronger in Silverstone.”
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sainz stated the issues within the high-speed are doubly painful for Ferrari as a result of they’re the kind of corners the place the workforce struggles in opposition to rivals anyway.
“With out going an excessive amount of into element, I believe it is a mixture of we’re not good in high-speed corners and, on the similar time, we’re bouncing which makes our high-speed exaggeratedly sluggish,” he stated.
“So right here Flip 7, Flip 9, we lose a tenth from Max in every of the corners, solely in a single nook and it’s totally tough to crawl that again. The remainder of the observe we’re nearly equal within the sluggish pace.
“However we’re working already again at residence to attempt to perceive this new package deal and the bouncing that we now have with it, and the way we will enhance it for Silverstone.”
Sainz is underneath no illusions that Ferrari appears to have fallen again in opposition to its rivals, having not likely been within the battle on the entrance for the previous couple of grands prix.
“Very tough. Very tough weekend,” he stated. “We do not seem to be we now have nailed not too long ago these final couple of races. We appear to be struggling a bit of bit.
“We appear positively to be a step behind Pink Bull and McLaren within the battle with Mercedes within the race. Within the dash and in quali, I felt like possibly that they had a bit the sting over us, however we did some adjustments going into quali that made possibly the automotive sooner, but additionally a bit extra on the sting.
“It was very tough on the market to place a lap collectively. However glad as a result of I believe did an honest lap and we’re in P4, which if you happen to would have informed me earlier than quali, I’d have taken it.”