In the first two races of the 2023 Formula 1 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz scored a fourth and a sixth place, results that are not in line with Scuderia Ferrari’s expectations before the start of the championship, at least according to what the top management claimed in February. The worst news for the read team is that, however, the Spaniard’s 20 points faithfully reflect the balance of power seen in the first two races: Ferrari is currently fighting for the role of third fastest car with Mercedes and seems far even from Aston Martin.
Ferrari’s problems, according to Carlos Sainz
The Spanish driver, with his usual analytical way of doing things, explained Ferrari’s main problem in a few words: “I didn’t do two good qualifying sessions, but the feeling with the car is good. I think the biggest difficulties were the dirty air behind other cars and the first stint in Bahrain. Also in Jeddah in the first stint it was very difficult to chase other cars with this car“, the #55 told the-race. “As for ourselves, we have a tire overheating problem, when we chase another car this critical issue it emerges even more. This is probably the main problem of the SF-23.” – the Spaniard explained.
Yet the feeling is good
“Otherwise, I am always at ease in free practice, while I was unable to do good laps in qualifying with this car. But that doesn’t worry me, because I know that as the season goes on and with the improvement of confidence with the car, the performance in qualifying will come“, continued Carlos Sainz. “I was relatively constant in the race, I brought some points even if they aren’t the right ones. I want to get on the podium and fight for victories. We’re not there yet and until we’re there, we have to work hard on development and bring home as many points as possible.” – the Ferrari man added.
Redeem for 2022
Last year in Australia, the Spanish driver was one of the disappointments of the grand prix. Indeed, of the whole weekend at the 5.278-kilometre Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. Carlos Sainz was penalized by problems in qualifying which forced him to start from ninth place. Starting with the hard tyre, he was unable to warm them up, and after falling to 13th place he ended his race on the gravel in the change of direction between turns 9 and 10, while trying to recover the lost ground. Carlos will now be hoping for a much better weekend in Australia.
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