Baku Friday pace: Carlos Sainz confident Ferrari can “challenge McLaren and Red Bull”. It was a physically challenging Friday for Carlos Sainz in Baku.

Ferrari’s ups and downs
The first free practice sessions for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the 6.003-kilometre Baku City Circuit were not easy for Scuderia Ferrari, despite the final result in FP2. In the afternoon, Charles Leclerc set the fastest time, though not without an impact against the barriers in FP1 and other technical issues in FP2. Carlos Sainz was more consistent, finishing in the top five in both sessions.

Always in the top five
Fifth in the morning session, the Spaniard improved by one position in the afternoon (though he received a warning for impeding the Red Bull of Sergio Perez at Turn 13). He confirmed his impressions of the day to the media after the sessions in Azerbaijan: “There were a few mistakes today, but we weren’t the only ones – it was very difficult to drive because the track was dirty and slippery, and we were five seconds slower than last year, as the data showed. We had some brake issues during FP1, but we managed to improve later in FP2. On top of that, I wasn’t 100% with my neck, as I didn’t sleep well last night and couldn’t move my head properly, but I felt better as the day went on and I’m ready for tomorrow.” – the Spaniard explained.

Confidence for qualifying
The Spaniard is optimistic for tomorrow’s qualifying session at the Baku City circuit, which will be a new challenge for all drivers: “No one was able to string together two clean laps, so tomorrow when we put on the soft tires from Q1 to Q3, we’ll all see our true potential,” he added. “We are confident we have good pace to fight with McLaren and Red Bull this weekend. It will also be important to complete the lap at the right time, as there could be yellow or red flags. Today was a typical Friday in Baku, particularly demanding. We started with very little grip, and the track evolved continuously throughout the day. It wasn’t easy to find the right feeling with the car. I’m confident that if we keep working like this, we can have a good qualifying tomorrow.” – Carlos Sainz concluded at the end of the second free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.