Carlos Sainz had a dominant outing on Friday at the Spanish GP, leaving his teammate struggling to keep the car under control. Despite his partner’s issues, Sainz felt incredibly comfortable behind the wheel of the Ferrari, and his times were incredibly fast from the get-go. As the qualifying times suggest, he’s definitely one of the top contenders for the weekend.
The Madrid native has the opportunity to secure a home victory, just like his teammate Charles Leclerc did in Monaco, and he’s determined not to let it slip away. To achieve this, Sainz wants to have everything under control, and he believes that mastering the track temperature in Montmeló will be key to his success.
“It’s been a complicated Friday, as always happens in Barcelona when the sun shines and the track changes quickly,” Sainz explained after the two practice sessions. He added that the time will change significantly over the weekend, with rain predicted for Sunday.
However, Sainz wasn’t the only one who had issues, as all teams faced complications on Friday. “It took us a bit to find the balance of the car in both sessions, but I think everyone had similar problems today,” he noted.
Despite the challenges, Sainz was thrilled with the performance of the SF-24, and he’s looking forward to fine-tuning the car in FP3. “Overall, I’m reasonably happy with the car, but we have work to do, especially in terms of race pace,” he said.
Sainz acknowledged that the main focus will be on improving the car for Sunday, while Saturday will be crucial in determining the starting grid. He’s aware that McLaren and Red Bull are superior in the race, but he’s confident that his team can give them a run for their money.
Before wrapping up, Sainz took a moment to thank the Spanish fans, who were out in force at the circuit. He expressed his gratitude for their support and promised to give them a good show on Saturday.
