Ferrari had are available to the Singapore weekend braced for a tricky time, with its SF-23 having appeared to wrestle in opposition to the opposition at high-downforce tracks.
Nevertheless, Sainz and team-mate Charles Leclerc have been the surprises of the opening day of motion as they headed both practice sessions across the Marina Bay circuit.
However whereas inspired concerning the potential proven, and others suggesting the squad is now favorite for the race win, Sainz and Leclerc are nonetheless cautious as a result of they know the way a lot the shape guide can change over the weekend.
Specifically, Sainz says that the best way that falling observe temperatures and a extra rubbered-in observe floor could make such a distinction to the tempo of vehicles via qualifying exhibits that Ferrari can take nothing without any consideration regardless of its early energy.
Learn extra: What we learned from Friday F1 practice at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix
Requested after follow if he was stunned by Ferrari’s tempo, Sainz stated: “Yeah, a little bit. However on the identical time, I believe you all the time have to arrive to Singapore very open-minded.
“We have seen previously very bizarre efficiency throughout Saturday’s observe [action], as a result of it is a very explicit observe.
“However thus far, it appears prefer it’s suiting our automotive effectively, and it is going effectively with the best way that we hit the bottom working in FP1 and we might simply positive tune the set-up a bit for FP2 and be a bit faster.
“It appears good, however I do consider the observe goes to vary loads. It may ramp up the grip loads. And it is all about who finds the right set-up.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
Photograph by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Images
Sainz thinks that Friday’s formbook was additionally barely skewed by the truth that quite a lot of Ferrari’s rivals have been working upgrades, so most likely devoted extra effort to evaluating these than chasing efficiency.
“It positively appears like there’s individuals out right here which have plenty of upgrades,” he stated. “So, we’d see that [for Saturday] they positive tune them, they perceive them higher and so they discover plenty of efficiency.
“For us, we have not actually introduced something, it is only a small tweak to what we had. We’re specializing in understanding our automotive round right here. We examined a few issues of set-up that I needed to strive round this sort of observe, and it appears prefer it labored and it is getting into the appropriate course. So, let’s examine if we are able to put one other good lap and be on the entrance row.”
Leclerc echoed {that a} change of set-up method for Singapore had appeared to unlock the potential that he had felt was lacking on the Italian GP, the place he was edged out by Sainz all through the weekend.
“It modified fairly a bit from Monza the place I struggled,” he stated. “I had a really tough automotive on Friday, however we realized from it and we went the opposite manner for right here.
“The stability felt nice right away. So, I’m very pleased with the change of method, and it is good to construct a weekend beginning on a Friday like this.
“However once more, we nonetheless have to do a step ahead. In order that’s the place we’re focusing the whole lot in the intervening time. And let’s examine what we are able to do.”