Sainz has started the year with two consecutive podium finishes, completing alongside Leclerc a Ferrari one-two in Bahrain before finishing third in Saudi Arabia.
But Sainz has been clear about his struggles to match Charles Leclerc during this early part of the season, calling Bahrain his “most difficult weekend” as a Ferrari driver.
The Madrid native was reluctant to reveal what his exact problems were with the Ferrari F1-75, but said being able to race the Jeddah Corniche Circuit twice in just four months was a useful way to see what he was missing compared to last year. .
“That was one of the best experiences of the year so far, experience in terms of going to a track where 100 days before I was at a very high level of confidence with last year’s car,” said Sainz after the Saudi GP. Saudi.
“I was very comfortable in qualifying and in the race. And I knew exactly what to expect from the car and what the car was giving me.”
“A hundred days later, I came back and in the corners where last year I was going very strong, this year it seemed like I was suffering a bit more and I wasn’t driving the car the way I should.”
“Along with the car not giving me exactly the feeling I needed for my driving, those combination of things are what I’m working on. And I think I’ve taken a step forward and I’ve taken a step in the right direction for the next race. “.
“And I have to say that has also given me the knowledge about those kind of two or three corners, two or three points where last year I felt so confident and comfortable and this year I didn’t.
“It has given me good benchmarks and data to work from and be stronger for the future.”
Despite his troubles fully grasping Ferrari’s new car, Carlos Sainz sits second in the world championship after the first two races, 12 points behind Leclerc and seven ahead of Max Verstappen.
Sainz qualified third in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, never finishing more than two-tenths off pole position.
