Hor having solid an in depth working relationship with Ferrari’s gasoline and lubricants accomplice Shell since becoming a member of the squad in 2021, his understanding of the complexities behind what powers his engines has grown significantly.
So, as we sit chatting contained in the Shell monitor lab that’s housed contained in the Ferrari storage at each F1 race on the calendar, he’s fast to reply as I enquire about whether or not or not it’s true a driver will be recognized simply from the chemical composition of an oil pattern from his engine.
“That is a delusion,” he laughs. “We are literally driving inside a tenth of a second of one another. So, to truly discover any variations on gasoline or oil, or the way you deal with that engine from driving, is just not one thing that you are able to do.
“However we do have distinction in consumption Charles [Leclerc] and I, due to my driving model.
“Usually for a race, possibly I want half a kilo to a kilo much less gasoline than him due to my driving model. However I do not assume my driving model impacts the situation of the gasoline after the race.”
Working collectively
Whereas such tiny gasoline particulars will be necessary in an F1 world the place marginal good points are the secret, it’s not the right here and now that has particularly grabbed Sainz’s consideration.
As an alternative, it’s F1’s looming transfer in the direction of totally sustainable gasoline – and the potential influence that can have on automotive efficiency – that Sainz is paying extra consideration to.
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Mechanics on the Dash grid with Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23
And it’s little marvel as a result of getting the gasoline and engine guidelines proper from 2026 can be vital to any group’s title hopes.
“It has clearly develop into extra of an curiosity, attending to know this partnership and attending to work with Shell the final three years I am in Ferrari,” he mentioned.
“Plus attending to know all the trouble and every thing that they put into F1, notably clearly with Ferrari.
“Once we modified to the ten% ethanol gasoline [for 2022], I keep in mind there was a drop in efficiency anticipated. All drivers had been fearful, as a result of they mentioned the engines had been going to drop by 20/30 horsepower.
“I wished to know what Shell was going to do with the gasoline and the way they had been going to assist us to make it possible for we did not lose the ability. And I keep in mind that 12 months, we truly did a fairly large step leap up in efficiency due to them!
“So now the following huge problem would be the 2026 set of rules and going 100% sustainable fuels.
“And I feel that is the place my curiosity goes to shift extra now; to comply with the event and see how additionally, with the designing of the principles, it is going to play out.”
Photograph by: Shell Motorsport
Shell decal on Ferrari System 1 automotive
Since arriving at Ferrari, the closeness of the connection between the Prancing Horse and Shell has been one of many huge surprises for Sainz.
And though it’s not an space that has a direct enter into efficiency good points every race weekend, as a result of F1 at present has a freeze on gasoline growth, that it to not say he doesn’t comply with operations fairly intently.
For with gasoline and oil samples taken after every session for evaluation to attempt to get some early warning indicators of any bother contained in the engines, the gasoline and oil dialogue is fixed.
“That is why after each session we give our suggestions to the engineers, after which after each single run that we come into the field, they take a pattern of the gasoline and oil,” added Sainz.
“They take a pattern, analyse it, verify that every thing is okay, after which subsequent one. That is repetitive, repetitive. And it is occurring the entire 12 months.
“So, you’ll be able to think about the variety of samples and the variety of issues that we now have been doing collectively is big. And it simply helps us to carry out higher and to get extra of a routine contained in the group to carry out constantly.”
Shell’s supply supervisor of motorsport Valeria Loreti says that working with a driver like Sainz has been a privilege.
Photograph by: Shell Motorsport
Valeria Loreti, Supply Supervisor, Shell Motorsport
“He’s very a lot into particulars,” she defined. “And every time we now have an opportunity to talk, he is all the time curious to be taught and to know the technicalities.
“I feel with Shell and Ferrari, we now have this striving for efficiency and pushing the boundaries, as a result of the funding in motorsport R&D is known as a free place to experiment and to be taught one thing new. It’s the foundation of our future growth.”
Pushing efficiency boundaries
As F1 heads in the direction of new guidelines 2026, Sainz is nicely conscious of the worth that can come from holding shut tabs on how progress goes between Shell and Ferrari, particularly when it comes near homing in on remaining specs.
“You are all the time looking for that high quality line between efficiency and reliability,” he mentioned. “You most likely know that you might extract 5 extra horsepower from an engine pushing it a bit extra throughout the season, nevertheless it may offer you two or three DNFs.
“So, is it value that 5 to 10 horsepower? Most likely not as a result of the variety of factors you lose is sort of laborious. However that is primarily right down to engineering and primarily right down to the group deciding the place to search out that high quality line of efficiency versus reliability, as a result of it is all the time a commerce.
“You’ll be able to by no means have essentially the most performant engine and on the identical time be tremendous dependable. However that is the place everybody has to work collectively on clear targets, clear expectations, and the place you need to play the efficiency.”
Loreti additionally thinks that as F1 transitions in the direction of 2026, the steadiness between energy and reliability has an additional factor now.
Photograph by: Shell Motorsport
Particulars from Shell System One trackside laboratory
“They’ve been all the time the important thing targets, and clearly you’ll come to a restrict the place extra efficiency means much less effectivity and vice versa,” she added.
“However now this image is changing into extra complicated since you’re including a brand new dimension, which is the sustainability.
“So, it makes the equation much more troublesome to resolve and, as a scientist, more difficult. However that’s what actually pushes us.”
Maintaining the spectacle
Simply as F1 sees great worth within the change to sustainable gasoline for 2026, the message is that those that comply with the motion ought to don’t have anything to worry as there is no such thing as a motive to recommend that it’s going to make issues any much less thrilling.
Requested about the place the steadiness ought to lie between sustainability goals and the leisure issue, Sainz mentioned: “I feel with a superb plan, you’ll be able to obtain each.
“I feel everybody has a superb grasp on the best way to put collectively the perfect set of rules to have each sustainability and a present, and that’s what F1 ought to attempt to obtain.
“On the identical time, I do consider everybody must be a pioneer in growth.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari with Jon Noble, Motorsport.com F1 Editor
Photograph by: Shell Motorsport
“I’ll all the time be in help of being pioneers in creating sustainable fuels and a sustainable world. However on the identical time, with out forgetting what makes followers fall in love with the game.
“Discovering the compromise for these two issues is precisely what everybody ought to attempt to do, and everyone seems to be attempting to do.”
It is usually a transfer that excites Shell.
As Loreti defined: “Everyone seems to be driving a change in sustainability. Sooner or later, the world can be extra sustainable on the planet of vitality, and we need to be main this revolution.
“We expect that there can be no silver bullets. There can be a number of vitality carriers and vitality options that can assist us win with the vitality transition.
“However having the chance to reveal that superior sustainable gasoline, that it nonetheless delivers efficiency and it is one thing that may be carried out and generate concepts and future applied sciences for different merchandise, is one other piece of the jigsaw.”