A bad first sector weighed down Carlos Sainz. First in the Q2, because it forced him to use two sets of tires and keep only one for the final session. And in the Q3, because he risked and lost “three or four very valuable tenths”. With the glass half full, a bad day places him fourth on the grid and with the pace to overtake third (Russell) and fight the second (alonso).
“I suffered, the first sector choked me, but then in the rest of the circuit I was fast. It was not a good classification. From the Q2 I had to use two new sets due to a mistake I made in the first sector. it cost me in the Q3 because I couldn’t use two sets of new ones. On the last lap I tried to push a bit more in that first sector, but I made a mistake and lost three or four very valuable tenths. The good thing is that the race is tomorrow, although we haven’t had a good day, I think we have the pace to pass Russell and fight for a podium”, said the Spaniard after qualifying. Regarding his run-in with the Englishman at the pit exit, which could harm him on that lap, he settles: “I don’t know what he was thinking, but hey.”
For the race, go to perez too far, even if it is not impossible to fight: “Red Bull is one step ahead, it’s no secret. Especially in race pace. We have to see how it goes back Verstappen and what rhythm does it have Czech, if we can stand up to him. The numbers say no, but in the race and with safety cars anything can happen”.