Formula 1 | With Ferrari upgrades, Sainz hopes F1 ‘more to his liking’

Carlos Sainz has an opportunity to kill three birds with one stone this weekend in Barcelona: winning his first Grand Prix, his first Grand Prix with Ferrari, and his first Grand Prix at home. The opportunity is beautiful and the dream is above all realistic.

“Doing it at my home Grand Prix would be the best thing ever” admits Carlos Sainz.

“I keep thinking about it, I keep dreaming about it. In the same way as when I was here, at the age of 10, I dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver, and it happened. Then I dreamed of being a Ferrari driver and it happened. And I dreamed of winning, you know? »

“Yes, I thought about it a lot. It’s what drives me, it’s what makes me train at 7 in the morning and push like crazy. I’m thinking about it, but I’m not obsessed. »

“I’m not impatient: I want this victory, but you have to know that I’ve been trying to win a race since I arrived in Formula 1. I’ve waited a lot, so I’m ready to have to wait even longer. »

“The objective this year must be to take advantage of the good car that Scuderia Ferrari has built, which allows us to have the chance to win every race, to try to fight for the championship. »

The pressure of contesting a Grand Prix at home has never scared off Carlos Sainz, a regular in the top 10 at Barcelona. Will it be different in a car that can play for victory this year?

“I arrive with a lot of enthusiasm, also with a certain affection for the Grand Prix, because it is always a Grand Prix where I have obtained very good results in the past. The ‘home’ factor always helps and this year is my first ‘home’ Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver and with full grandstands, so it will be very special, something unique that I will remember for the rest of my life. I want to make the most of it and get the most out of it. »

However, it is not with full confidence that Carlos Sainz arrives in Barcelona: in particular because after Australia and Imola, he has lost many points and is already left behind by Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.

“Yes, the start of the season has not been ideal. I’m probably the first one not to be 100% satisfied with how everything turned out. At the same time, you have to see things in a positive way: you know, I’m done [quand il a terminé] every race on the podium so far, even though I’m not 100% happy with the car, I’m fighting for pole positions and finishing on the podium when I finish. »

“So those two blank results in Australia, at Imola, have quite a big effect on the drivers’ championship, but at the same time, with 17 races remaining, I think we still have a lot of time to come back. »

Long-awaited developments on the F1-75

Finally, Carlos Sainz is counting on the aerodynamic contribution of the many Ferrari developments this weekend to improve performance of course, but also to feel more comfortable in the red car.

“And now, with the arrival of a package of evolutions the car will probably progress a little, I hope to be able to put it a little more to my liking and start the season. »

“After five development races for Red Bull and zero for us, we still locked down the front row in Miami and were in the fight for the win and the podium. »

“I trust the team, I trust what we do at the factory. I think we have the right ideas. We’re up against probably the strongest team in Formula 1 with Red Bull, they’re going to be fast and beating them will be a big challenge but we still believe we can do it and we’re going to develop as much as we can and as it should. Let’s see if that’s enough to beat them. »