Sainz relieved to have Ferrari F1 automobile he can “assault” with

Sainz’s 25-second deficit to Verstappen was half the hole of the identical race 12 months in the past when Ferrari’s tyre administration points and inconsistent dealing with first got here to the floor.

The SF-23’s poor race tempo relative to its rather more aggressive one-lap efficiency grew to become a theme all through the season, significantly on the extra demanding circuits.

Sainz felt it was a “reduction” that its successor, the SF-24, is a automobile he can lastly be aggressive with.

“It’s kind of of a reduction as a result of the final race the place I used to be attacking was Austria and we’re speaking about 13, 14 races in the past,” Sainz stated.

“After which the remainder of the races final 12 months you simply needed to handle, look within the mirrors, management your tempo. And there have been little or no alternatives to go and overtake folks.

“I really like going racing, and I really like going overtaking, being aggressive, attacking. And with final 12 months’s automobile, it was merely unattainable to try this.

“I bear in mind on the automobile launch saying this 12 months I want we had a automobile to go racing and assault folks and do not care an excessive amount of concerning the tyres. And it is precisely what we bought.

“I bought an attacking race, a extremely good race tempo and from there every little thing felt actually good to complete P3. I loved it loads.”

Whereas Bahrain confirmed expectations that Verstappen and Crimson Bull will march unopposed to a different title this 12 months, Sainz’s tempo urged that there’s scope for an even bigger battle at sure races, with Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit a very sturdy monitor for Crimson Bull.

“The benefit of Crimson Bull in Bahrain is what you noticed very, very clearly,” Sainz thought. 

“I believe it is fascinating how they’ll hold the C3 tender tyre alive for a bit longer than the remainder, how they have an inclination to overheat a bit much less.

“Possibly that is what makes the automobile additionally not as aggressive in qualifying and so good within the race in a monitor like Bahrain.

“Now we want extra samples, however I anticipate Crimson Bull at all times to be higher within the race like they had been final 12 months.

Podium: Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

Photograph by: Erik Junius

“Have a look at the final eight races between Charles and me. We managed to do some pole positions, a whole lot of entrance rows however then Max within the race was pulling away massively and Checo was at all times in a position to overtake us.”

“I hope that this 12 months’s trait isn’t as exaggerated and we have made a superb step ahead in that sense.”