After the splendid victory at the Albert Park circuit in Australia, Carlos Sainz arrives in Japan with a smile, but also aware of the challenge that awaits the Prancing Horse on a circuit that is theoretically more demanding for the SF-24 than Melbourne was two weeks ago. Furthermore, Max Verstappen’s retirement after a few laps due to a technical problem undoubtedly facilitated Ferrari’s task, laying the groundwork for a one-two finish that had been missing for about two years.
Having turned the page, the focus is entirely on this weekend’s appointment at Suzuka. The first positive sign comes from the Spanish driver himself, who has returned to training after a forced rest period following the appendicitis surgery in Saudi Arabia.
In the following two weeks, Carlos Sainz couldn’t train as he would have liked, but the post-Australia break allowed him to regain rhythm and return to the gym. Although he still can’t lift heavy weights, the Spaniard has started training and feels close to 100% fitness again.
“This week I went cycling. I was in Australia for a week and started going back to the gym. Obviously, I can’t lift heavy weights like I used to, but at least I can train and feel close to 100% again,” Carlos Sainz said in a press conference.
Attention is now shifted to Suzuka, a track that will reveal much about Ferrari’s progress in recent months. The SF-24 seems like a more complete car than its predecessor, as it is not only easier to drive for the pilots but also more predictable and gentle on the tires. Additionally, performing well in medium-speed sections, it seems to adapt better to a wider range of scenarios than before. However, Suzuka also tests other aspects, such as high-speed corners.
Although the Prancing Horse car hasn’t disappointed, there has still been a performance gap in the faster corners and rapid direction changes compared to Red Bull and McLaren, both in Jeddah and Melbourne. And it is precisely in these areas that Ferrari aims to confirm at Suzuka, one of the most technical tracks on the entire circuit.
“I think it’s true that we did very well in Australia, but I believe that normally in these cases, it’s sufficient to average the first three races to understand where we stand. And I think we’re still a couple of tenths away from Red Bull and probably need to improve, especially on tracks like Suzuka, to be able to challenge them,” Carlos Sainz explained before praising the work done by the team over the past months, with the technical group having created a more balanced and consistent car than the limited SF-23.
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“I think the work done by the team this year is extremely good because the car is a great step forward. We just need a bit more, especially if we want to win on circuits like Japan’s. There are no major updates coming here. We have, I believe, some small updates at the rear, but the most significant updates will come later in the season. I hope that package can be another good step in the right direction,” added the Ferrari driver, explaining how the Prancing Horse hasn’t brought major updates to Suzuka, while substantial updates will come later in the championship, probably around the Imola stage.
“I think last year Suzuka was one of the most challenging tracks for us compared to Red Bull. Four or five months ago, we were, I believe, seven or eight tenths behind them. So now we’ll be able to see where we stand this year, see the improvements, and understand if we can be at least closer.” – he pointed out.
While it’s clearly understood in F1 what a driver’s value is even in previous seasons, a good start to the season could undoubtedly represent an extra weapon for Carlos Sainz in negotiations to secure his future. At the moment, the Spaniard is talking to several teams, but behind the scenes, there’s a puzzle where all the pieces must fit together to kick off negotiations. That’s why Carlos Sainz would like to speed up the process, to find a new team soon to plan for the future.
“Obviously, we’re talking to other teams because that’s what my management and I have to do without a job for next year. We’re talking to pretty much everyone. It’s just about delving into the details and seeing which options are most realistic, which are the best for me and my future, but today I have no news to give you. The only thing I would like to say is that, obviously, it’s time to speed things up a bit and hopefully, we can resolve the issue as soon as possible.” – the Ferrari man concluded.
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