The pre-season testing has come to an end. And the teams have collected all the data as well as the required inputs from the drivers. Although Max Verstappen finished top on the timesheet on the last day of Bahrain testing, it is Ferrari and their drivers, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc, who are branded as the favorite going into the Bahrain GP weekend.

Carlos Sainz had an impressive start in his first season at Ferrari, and the driver has recently opened up about the competitive nature of the drivers. He also revealed that all the teams are constantly analyzing the lap times of the rest of the grid to get better.

Drivers keep a keen eye on each other, according to Sainz

Carlos Sainz opened up about his time with Ferrari so far and spoke about his ambitions ahead of the new season. He also revealed that the teams constantly check out each other during the testing period. Speaking on Beyond the Grid Podcast about whether there are temptations to look into other teams’ performance, he said, “We are all looking into each other, we are all trying to analyse where everyone is. We are all looking at GPS data, sector times and top speeds.”

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The Spaniard also admitted that the teams try to downplay their pace. And the competitive nature of the sport means that the teams always try to get an advantage over others.

He added, “Teams try to play down a bit where everyone is and we just want to get on with our programme. But the reality is, we are competitive animals and we just want to know as soon as possible where everyone is. Just because you are patient, you want to know where you are.”

Is Ferrari extending Sainz’s contract?

Earlier, Mattia Binotto conveyed the possibility of Sainz signing a new contract. The 27-year-old driver had an impressive first year as he finished 5th in driver’s standings. Sainz has adapted to the car and will look to continue his journey in Ferrari.

Binotto revealed that an agreement between the two parties is close. He said, “It is not a secret that we are in the process of renewing the contract with Carlos. We are all happy, but there are still some steps to be taken.”

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Ferrari have started their season in a strong fashion. Pre-season testing shows that they have the potential to be one of the front runners in the Championship. With Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, they have got two high-quality drivers who are ready to compete at the top. Can Ferrari justify their early-season favorites tag? Only time will tell.