Carlos Sainz seeks confirmation in Singapore
After stepping onto the podium for the first time this year in his home race, after a tough battle with his teammate Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz arrives in Singapore with the hope of repeating last year’s top-3 finish when he came in third.
The Spanish driver is determined to perform well after Monza, as he explained in an interview with Italian journalist Stefano Mancini for the La Stampa newspaper: “Hope is always there, but we’re talking about opposite tracks: one very fast, the other a low-downforce circuit.”
Carlos Sainz knows well that the Ferrari SF-23 is currently unable to compete for victories, which have been the exclusive domain of Red Bull for the last 15 races. However, he hopes to break the record streak: “I hope it’s me, since I’ve come close. They have to make some mistakes, and I need to be there to seize the opportunity. If Verstappen and Red Bull don’t make any mistakes, it will be tough. We have to be ready to take advantage of their mistakes, but I understand the objection: Ferrari is not here to profit from others’ problems, even though returning to success would be important. We want to beat our opponents on the track in a normal race. That’s what we’re working on for next year.” – the Spaniard pointed out.
Carlos Sainz and Ferrari
Carlos Sainz has been with Scuderia Ferrari for three years, and it’s no secret that one of his strengths is his consistent performance. In 2021, he beat Charles Leclerc in their internal duel and currently leads him by 6 points in this part of the season: “I have always felt very appreciated at Ferrari since 2021 when I set foot in Maranello. I’m happy here, and I’m in a good phase of my career. I’ve been driving well this year, and I feel there’s still potential to do better. My desire would be to continue here. Of course, we need to come to an agreement: it would be great news if we could renew the contract and move forward.”
He was also asked about his relationship with Charles Leclerc: “My ideal teammate? For now, Charles is the one I get along with the best. We have a very good relationship both on and off the track. I also got along well with Lando Norris at McLaren. To be honest, I’ve felt comfortable with every teammate I’ve had. Whoever it is, I’m fine with it.”
Scuderia Ferrari hasn’t won a championship since 2008: “The goal is to be competitive again next year. 2023 was about identifying problems, but the results were disappointing. Red Bull has grown much more than us and all the other teams. In 2024, we want to fight for victory again. Then it remains to be seen if we will win the title, but at least we have to try,” Carlos Sainz concluded.
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