It is difficult to talk about objectives with a Ferrari capable of starting in the front row and finishing well away from the podium. Sainz, sixth in the World Cup with 16 points more than Leclerc (7th), he is still confident that this SF-23 will take flight with a better understanding of the car by the team, in addition to the evolutions that may come. The 28-year-old from Madrid spoke to AS upon arriving in Montreal about expectations, individual performance and Maranello’s first victory in 2023… which did not come in Formula 1, but in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
—How can it be that the fastest Ferrari that has left Maranello this year has ended up at Le Mans?
—(Smile). It’s a trick question. They are very different disciplines with very different regulations. The big difference is that Red Bull has done a very good job here and we, Mercedes and Aston Martin are one step behind. What Ferrari has done at Le Mans is spectacular, congratulations to the whole team because they deserve it. I have already seen Antonio Giovinazzi (one of the three winning drivers, and Ferrari reserve in F1) and I have given him a big hug, because achieving that for Ferrari after so many years has to be spectacular.
—In Canada 2022, you were second in the race and you were the fastest on the track, with more pace than Verstappen. How many things have to change to be seen again in that situation?
—First Red Bull has to disappear (laughs). And then I think it might. There will be weekends where Ferrari will be able to go a little faster, on others it will be Mercedes and on others Aston Martin. We already saw it in Baku, there in qualifying we were even faster than Red Bull. It will change a lot from circuit to circuit, but while that happens, we have to focus on understanding why we are doing so decently in qualifying and so poorly in the race. That’s what we’re trying to figure out, we go to every grand prix trying to test things on suspension, aerodynamics, wheels, every weekend.
—With this car, with this philosophy, can you aspire to be that second car, even the first car on some circuits?
—We want him to be the first, we don’t see the goal of being second. But we also know that the first one is a long way off and there is a lot of work to be done. It’s what Ferrari aspires to and what I aspire to, which is why I’m spending more time than ever in Maranello and trying to help the team as much as I can in the simulator, looking for new directions. But things in F1 don’t happen overnight.
—On an individual level, how do you see yourself? He comes out well in comparison with Leclerc.
—Without making comparisons, guiding myself by my instinct and my feelings, I feel that I understand this car. How to carry it, how to drive it and set it up. I know it’s complicated, it surprises you many times, it doesn’t let you pull as you would like in the race or inspire that natural confidence. But I know more or less what to do with it and I try to do as much as I can every weekend. But yes, I want to improve it and be more competitive.