What could be better than the opportunity to take the stage in front of your home audience while the national anthem gives you actual goosebumps? However, for Carlos Sainz, this stayed far from reality as he sank like a stone on home soil this year. And now that his goal has been wiped out, he emerges to outline the causes of Ferrari’s terrible hardships. So let’s take a look at what the homeboy said after the race.
In an effort to finish on the podium, the Spanish driver suffered a challenging race pace of SF23 after starting the home race in second place behind the dominant Max Verstappen.
Sainz unveiled the reason behind Ferrari’s terrible performance
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Sainz finished fifth after being overtaken by the two Mercedes drivers and Mexican driver Sergio Perez. The Scuderia camp had a difficult day at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya since, in the qualifying session, when the Spaniard earned a P2, Leclerc appeared to be having tire issues. This had an adverse effect on his performance and forced him to start from the pit lane. Whereas Sainz was observed battling for control of those Pirelli compounds during the race.
The Prancing Horse’s emotions have been all over the place so far this season, and competing at the Spanish circuit proved to be especially difficult for them due to the nature of the course. Why? Because Ferrari’s SF23 has the same problems with quick turns and straight-line speed that comprises the Spanish circuit’s frame.
In line with Speedcafe.com, Sainz highlighted the agonizing struggles. He said, “I just spent the whole race managing tyres because we know we are very hard on them, and with this high-deg circuit, I just couldn’t push.”
While adding further, he said, “The weakness of our car came alive at a circuit like this with its high-speed corners, and how hard we are on tires. It also shows that (in qualifying) we must have done a pretty good lap. But the race was a bit back to where the car is at the moment on race pace. Probably this sort of track. It’s just not great for us.”
Life at Ferrari has been challenging so far this season due to issues with strategy calls, uncontrollable tire wear, and problems with the pace. However, when Carlos Sainz, 28, was quizzed, he responded in an empathetic way.
What else did Carlos Sainz say of the struggles at Ferrari?
Carlos Sainz is currently sixth in the driver standings with 58 points. Despite the Spanish driver’s occasional displays of annoyance over tactical decisions and the SF23 challenges, the 28-year-old nonetheless applauds Ferrari for its efforts. He said that to bring the updated package sooner than had been anticipated is a job done well.
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The Ferrari driver followed by saying, If you are driving for Ferrari, “there’s nothing really that can bother you.” While talking to racinnews365, the Spanish driver said, “It [Upgrades] was supposed to come a lot later in the season and the whole factory was just flat out these last few months, because of the situation, to try and bring it earlier.”
Later while adding how he feels in the Ferrari camp amidst all the ongoing struggles, Sainz said, “I wake up every morning and I realise that I’m a Ferrari driver, that I’m still having a chance for the podium and that life is good, then there’s nothing really that can bother you.”
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Do you believe the Maranello team can handle the ongoing problems as the season goes on?