Carlos Sainz has started the 2024 season on the front foot and has been the only non-Red Bull driver in the past two seasons to have claimed victory. However, the Sprint Qualifying did not go as planned for the Spaniard who managed to qualify in P5 for tomorrow’s sprint race in Shanghai. Despite this, Sainz is optimistic about Ferrari‘s pace and claims the prancing horses are in the fight for the win.
F1 returned to China after a gap of five years, and the drivers were considered to be not at home with the track. The challenge became even greater due to the Sprint race being held this weekend, and more so by the presence of rain during qualifying.
Despite the fifth-place finish, Carlos Sainz has not ruled himself out of the running for the sprint win.
We struggled a lot with warming up the tires in SQ3. So, if it were wet tomorrow we would have to find something to be competitive, while in the dry we could be in the fight. Carlos Sainz said in an interview with SkySportsF1
The former three-time race winner explained that the Italian squad struggled with firing up their tires in SQ3 with the onset of rain. This led them to venture into untrodden territory and suffered from it in qualifying. However, Sainz is adamant that if the Sprint race were in dry conditions, then the Ferraris would be in a league of their own and would be the ones to look out for.
Carlos Sainz claims to be not comfortable with the SF-24
Despite claiming to have the potential to fight for the sprint win, the Ferrari driver feels that he is not dialed in with the car. Moreover, the Spaniard was more than two seconds off the pole time behind Lando Norris in the Sprint Shootout.
Subsequently, the 29-year-old revealed that he is not comfortable with the SF-24.
The sprint race is in the morning, then parc ferme opens and we can change the car. I would like to be able to make a couple of adjustments to the car after the sprint race, because I don’t feel comfortable.
Carlos Sainz said in an interview with Sky Sports Italy
Sainz explained that when the parc ferme restrictions are lifted, he will make changes to the car’s setup. He would focus on rear-end stability and the car’s other crucial elements to set it in the perfect window.
Despite the concerns, Carlos Sainz is expected to be on top form during the Sprint race and potentially challenge for the podium places. Subsequently, he would be focusing on the race on Sunday where the big points are going to be awarded.
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