After an error that took him straight to the wall during Q2 of Friday’s qualifying session, Carlos Sainz was forced to start from tenth position, with the aim of making as much of a comeback as possible in the sprint race.
From the middle of the peloton, the rider from Madrid managed to recover two positions and was placed in eighth place. A few laps later, on the safety car jumpstart, he began to attack his compatriot Fernando Alonso and several laps later gained position from him at Tamburello .
Sainz continued his comeback and passed Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Ricciardo with the help of DRS, a move he would repeat a few laps later, on lap 19, to gain position from Lando Norris, moving into fourth position at the time, the same place where he would cross the checkered flag two laps later.
As soon as he got out of his car, the man from Madrid recognized the good feelings and was positive for the fact that he had been able to come back and place himself behind his teammate and the two Red Bulls for the start of the race on Sunday, April 24 .
“I’m happy to be able to start tomorrow in the top four, that was the goal, to be fourth. The truth is that it was a clean race, without problems, with a good start and good overtaking”.
The energy drinks team took the victory with Max Verstappen and Carlos believes that they are one step ahead: “Now it will be time to prepare for tomorrow’s race because it seems that the Red Bulls have a little more this weekend and we have to find something if we want to stand up to them”.
“I’m happy with the pace I had at the end of the race, but it seems that they suffer less degradation,” he added.
As for the race, Carlos Sainz acknowledged that if the rain comes, it could benefit Ferrari.
“We have a 30% or 40% chance of rain for the race, so it is possible that at some point it will rain. If it rains we will have fun and if it doesn’t then we will have to see how we can correct that deficit we have with Red Bull “.
In reference to the question that has been repeated since the preseason, the Spanish driver spoke clearly and acknowledged that he still does not feel comfortable behind the wheel of the Ferrari F1-75.
“The truth is that no, because mistakes like yesterday’s would not happen. I’m not 100% comfortable with this car, I’m fighting everything I can to feel comfortable but in a sprint weekend I haven’t been able to test all things that I would have liked.
