Carlos Sainz eager to "help Ferrari however I can as a driver with my inputs"

Carlos Sainz hasn’t timed his move to Ferrari to perfection given its struggles are set to continue into next season with what is largely a carry-over car. Whatever happens, it’s not going to be an easy transition and the scale of the challenge he faces in moving into Charles Leclerc’s territory and doing what Sebastian Vettel currently cannot is obvious. But Sainz eschews the usual talk about 2021 being a ‘character-building’ year and instead aims to turn it to his advantage.

Sainz knows about the ups and downs of F1 and has shown he has got the resilience to deal with what it has thrown at him so far. We can be sure of this because he’s willing to admit some of the scrutiny he faced in the past did affect him – something he probably is only willing to do because he’s managed to find a way to deal with it.

“Since my jump to McLaren, I had more media pressure and then a bit more attention since I signed as Ferrari driver,” says Sainz. “Also, when you sign for a team like McLaren or Renault, you get that that attention from the English media and French media and it is something that has affected me.

“By now, in my sixth year in Formula 1, I know how to handle these kind of things. The first year in F1 is probably a bit more tricky, everything surprises you, but six years later, you know how everyone is going to react to a bad quali, to a bad lap, to a bad race. You just keep your head down, keep thinking about yourself and not get too distracted. Easier said than done.”

The other pressure he will be subjected to will emanate from the other side of the garage. He’s already gone toe-to-toe with one of F1’s pre-eminent drivers as Verstappen’s team-mate, but now he takes on a Leclerc who has made the Ferrari team his domain.

Ferrari has clearly has signed Sainz with a view to him being a de facto number two, a driver capable of consistency, but perhaps lacking the last edge of pace needed to bother Leclerc. But a character as determined as Sainz will be going in expecting to assert himself and with a clear plan in mind of how to do so. Every driver does that, even the ones that have no chance, and Ferrari should not underestimate Sainz. Stage one in that process is that he must avoid being blown away by Leclerc.

“I’m aware that I’m going in new and he’s been there for three years there by the time I arrive and he will know the car, know very well the team,” says Sainz. “I’ve been in that situation before. For example, in Renault, when I arrived next to Nico [Hulkenberg]. I know it takes a bit of time before getting to know everyone and how to exploit the full performance of our car and how to build a bit your team, and feed yourself into that team. I know what it’s like, I’ve done it before.

“I know it’s not going to be easy, especially with the talent of Charles and how good he’s been doing lately. He’s a great competitor, but it’s a challenge that excited me when I signed the deal. It might not be in a long-term contract, but I’m in a mid-term contract, which gives me enough time to get into the team and start from zero with a bit of patience and adapt to the team little by little.”

“In Formula 1, it takes time and the fact that you need to be in the right place at the right time,” says Sainz. “Hopefully I’ve taken the right direction going into the future. I’ll be part of an amazing team and I cannot wait to see what’s going on with Ferrari and to help with whatever I can help with as a driver with my inputs.”