Carlos Sainz Jr. didn’t hold back as he dissected Ferrari’s challenges at high-speed tracks like Austria, emphasizing the gap between their performance and that of rivals McLaren and Red Bull.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. candidly addressed the struggles faced by his team in reaching the competitive level of McLaren and Red Bull. According to Sainz, the Scuderia’s performance at tracks like Austria has not met expectations, primarily due to their ongoing difficulties in qualifying. He confirmed that the issues he noted in Barcelona persist, with Ferrari unable to challenge at the front of the grid on faster circuits.
Asked whether Charles Leclerc’s win at Monaco reflected a surprise in the team’s performance, Sainz dismissed the notion, describing Monaco as an anomaly. “I think Monaco was always an outlier,” he commented, highlighting that while Ferrari can shine on high-downforce tracks, they continue to lag on more typical circuits. He further explained the competitive landscape, noting the strides made by competitors like Red Bull and McLaren, while acknowledging Mercedes’ recent advancements have also added to the challenge.
A familiar issue for Ferrari has been the car’s porpoising tendencies, particularly on high-speed corners. Sainz elaborated on this after the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying, noting that the car’s updates have increased speed but also heightened sensitivity, complicating the drivers’ ability to execute fast laps. The porpoising causes difficulty in high-speed sections, like Turns 7 and 9, where Ferrari loses crucial tenths of a second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Sainz expressed that the team is actively working on understanding and solving these issues back at their base, with hopes of improving by the next race in Silverstone. Despite Ferrari’s own improvements, the rapid development from rival teams has maintained a tightly competitive environment at the top of the grid.
For Carlos Sainz Jr., the road ahead is one of technical challenges and fierce competition. As Ferrari continues to refine its car and strategy, the team faces a critical period to close the gap with leading teams and enhance its performance in upcoming races.
