Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz had a decidedly solid race in the Netherlands at the Zandvoort circuit located in the dunes north of Zandvoort. There were almost no mistakes in the challenging conditions that troubled many drivers, including his Maranello teammate, and a fifth-place finish that still carries the taste of a half-full glass.
Certainly, as admitted by the Spaniard himself, the one at Zandvoort was not a competitive Scuderia.
“There were moments when we were fighting for the podium, but the reality is that in normal race conditions, the pace wasn’t there,” explained Carlos Sainz in the post-race interviews.
“Still, we managed to finish a good race, we battled with faster cars than us throughout the race. I believe we should be proud of finishing in fifth place, of course, not without the difficulties we encountered.”
Carlos Sainz: “We were the sixth force on the grid”
Despite the final fifth place, car #55 acknowledged that Ferrari was likely behind five other teams in terms of on-track pace.
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“Yes, I think we were the sixth force on the grid today,” he admitted. “We knew we would struggle this weekend, and the goal was to maximize what we had for a good result. I’d say we did that. Overall, especially considering the truly difficult conditions, I’d say it was one of my best races of the year.” – he pointed out.
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Analyzing the final stages of the race, where the Ferrari driver skillfully fended off Hamilton’s repeated attacks, the major difficulties arose from the absence of fresh tires.
“The last stint was complex,” Carlos explained. “I no longer had intermediate tires, and the only ones available were the ones we used in qualifying. Nevertheless, I managed to keep Hamilton behind me. In those seven laps, I know I was really slow, but there was nothing more I could do except try to keep the car in the right position.”
Ferrari: “Optimism for Monza”
Formula 1 now heads to Monza, and Carlos Sainz is confident that the Scuderia can once again compete for the podium at the Italian circuit in front of the Tifosi: “We want to return to the positions that are rightfully ours. We look to the Monza weekend with a bit of optimism; I believe we can be the second force on the grid in front of our fans.” – the Spaniard concluded.
Source: f1ingenerale
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