The Zandvoort circuit has presented a tougher challenge for Ferrari this weekend due to the high downforce setup required and ongoing SF23 issues on tracks with similar profiles. Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, failed to clock a time in Friday’s free practice and handed the wheel to Robert Shwartzman, in line with the rule that each team must give at least one young driver a session each season. Despite the hurdles, the Madrid native keeps grinding for strong results, navigating a difficult qualifying session with strategy that can still yield surprises in mixed conditions of wet and dry.
Relating to
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Alonso points to the podium: “We’re close, that’s the best news”
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F1 Dutch GP starting lineup with Alonso fifth and Sainz sixth
With Charles Leclerc colliding with the guardrails in the third quarter, Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll were eliminated in the second, while Sainz remained steadily composed. “Looking at how the weekend unfolded from different angles, we missed Free Practice 1 from the start and then Free Practice 3 in the rain, which went somewhat better than expected,” Sainz commented.
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Verstappen takes third pole at Zandvoort
It was a challenging weekend for Ferrari. They appeared to be sliding out of contention in the third quarter, but made progress and finished sixth through a mix of solid tire strategy and resilient execution. The Madrid-born driver noted that a strong qualifying effort would have been ideal, yet acknowledged the effort put in across the sessions.
“It’s clear that the high-load tracks aren’t playing to our strengths, and we’ll need to endure and push through the difficult moments. Others have progressed more smoothly to this point.” Sainz added, setting modest expectations for Sunday’s race at the Dutch circuit: “Tomorrow, the target is to be in the top six or eight,” he concluded, underscoring a realistic approach as the event nears its final stages.