Carlos Sainz does not have control over his classification as expected. Problems have stacked up for the Ferrari driver, who has relied on the team and on his own resilience to push back into the race, where he will line up from fourth on the starting grid this Sunday. The day was far from easy, with the Spanish racer describing the flow of events as a test of nerve and teamwork. He remains determined to turn the situation around and to extract the best possible performance from the SF-23 as the grand prix approaches.
“It was a very difficult day, especially after qualifying, I couldn’t find the lap and I was relieved that in the end Leclerc posted the second fastest time with the car,” Sainz observed with guarded optimism. He added that the situation still holds room for improvement: this is positive news, yet the team is not yet where it wants to be, since the ultimate goal is to secure first and second on the grid. The Spaniard emphasized that weaknesses still exist in certain areas and he noted that Max Verstappen is not in contention this weekend, though he believes a solid performance is still within reach for Ferrari in the race tomorrow.
Regarding the SF-23, Sainz admitted that the car’s rear end has not felt predictable, a factor complicating setup decisions. He pointed to potential tire behavior in sector one and indicated he needs to conduct further analysis to determine whether the issue lies with the car or with tire preparation. The driver signaled a methodical approach to resolving the ambiguity and moving toward stronger race pace as the event unfolds.
“We’re going to have to have a good day tomorrow. I think we have potential, I think the pace of the race should be better, so although I think we can aim for the podium, we will be patient. We are focused.” He remarked that the team could have approached qualifying with slightly different preparation, which would have reduced the difficulty he faced. He noted that Charles showed what the car was capable of, and if the day had gone cleaner, a second place on the grid might have been within reach. The overall message from Sainz was one of measured expectation and steady determination to maximize performance on race day, with a clear plan to minimize mistakes and capitalize on any opportunities that arise.