Three retirements at the start of the 2022 season have removed Carlos Sainz from the top places in the drivers’ world championship, but his performance in recent races has improved and in the most recent he was very close to victory, specifically less than one second.
Speaking of that Canadian GP where he ended up glued to Max Verstappen, Sainz played down the different rear wing configuration he had compared to his teammate Leclerc , and believes that there was not so much difference between his car and the Red Bull to pass the leader of the world
“No, I don’t think so,” he replied when asked if that Charles Leclerc spoiler would have allowed him to win. “I think the speed was there all weekend. The pace was there, so the wing choice was the right one. In terms of overtaking ability, we know that with these cars, to overtake another, you need to be more half a second a lap quicker. And yes, we were quicker than Red Bull in many phases of the race, but we weren’t quicker than two or three tenths, which isn’t enough delta for overtaking.”
“So with these cars, at least in Canada, if on top of that we weren’t the strongest car at the hairpin, then the only point to overtake was at the chicane, and you’re never really going to get it. It all adds up, it’s circumstances.” .
Sainz is looking for his first victory in Formula 1, and many have recalled that he is the sixth driver with the most races in history without winning. When asked if he would sacrifice a desired first victory to help Leclerc in the World Cup, he avoided answering directly but was clear: “Winning, if I win, it would help for sure. And it would help me, who is also in the fight.”
Precisely about that fight they also asked Sainz for an opinion. The man from Madrid, after nine races, is fifth in the world championship, 9 points behind George Russell, 24 behind Leclerc , 27 behind Sergio Pérez and more than 70 behind Verstappen . However, if big results start coming in, you’ll have options again.
“I don’t watch the battle for the title much. Especially because I fell from there very quickly with my two retirements, which were consecutive, and then with another zero in Baku,” he began. “Honestly, that set me back quite a bit, but if I focus on winning races, I think that will bring me back into the fight. I get to the end.”
“But I don’t look at the championship as if it were an obsession, I just look at it race by race, we’re going to try to win the first one. Then, if we don’t succeed, be on the podium in all of them, and then be consistent, be Carlos again.” consistent as I have been in my last few years in Formula 1, and then that should put me back on top.”
Precisely the word pressure, or anxiety, is often mentioned when talking about the first victory that does not come: “I want it more than anyone in the paddock, and I know that many people want that victory for me too, but I can assure you that in The times I’ve been close, I’ve pushed hard, and I’ve tried everything I can to get it. And I have to be patient, I don’t have to chase it, and I believe it will come.”
His confidence has been boosted in recent weeks, but not only because of second place in Canada: “I’m a little bit more encouraged, not only for Montreal, but also for Baku, Monaco… I’ve had some good weekends with the car lately.
Regarding the circuit that hosts this British GP, he explained: “I think Silverstone is going to be a bigger challenge, because it is more similar to Barcelona, which is the circuit where I have suffered the most so far. So I think it will be a good reference to see how much I have advanced and how much I have improved with this car, because without a doubt since Monaco I have felt much closer and much more comfortable with the single-seater”.
Finally, Sainz spoke about the reliability problems that can lead to grid penalties like the one Leclerc already suffered in Canada. The #55 hopes that balances out and doesn’t end up being decisive: “Reliability I know has been a hot topic, but I think during the season, there are always going to be reliability issues, for one team or another. Probably the strongest In that aspect it has been Mercedes, but if you look at Red Bull, they have had retirements with both cars.
“In the end it all evens out and we just have to make sure we keep doing our job in the factory to make sure those problems don’t recur. But when you push the cars to the limit, like we’re doing at the front of the grid, these Things can happen,” he concluded.
