Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has expressed admiration for the Maranello team’s strategic unit following their advancement towards Mercedes and Aston Martin in the Formula 1 Constructors’ standings thanks to the result and performance in the Canadian Grand Prix, which was held at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal on Sunday
In a qualifying session plagued by difficulties, Carlos Sainz secured only the eighth-fastest time in Q3, while his teammate Charles Leclerc was not able to reach the top ten, being eliminated in Q2 and having to start the Montreal race from 11th place.
However, due to impeding Pierre Gasly during the wet session on Saturday, Carlos Sainz received a three-place grid penalty, causing him to fall behind Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari’s strategy team has faced criticism in recent years due to several errors that often resulted in their cars slipping down the rankings. Nonetheless, the Scuderia’s courageous decision to refrain from pitting under an early Safety Car situation at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, unlike most teams, turned out to be a stroke of brilliance this time, enabling the Maranello team to secure a fourth and fifth-place finish in Montreal.
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“Clearly, we had more pace than where we qualified,” Carlos Sainz admitted in an interview for the British media at the end of the Canadian Grand Prix – “It felt like we would have had fun at the front if we would have started at the front but solid pace, a solid strategy and we managed to bring home fourth and fifth.” – he continued.
At a certain point, the Spanish driver was asked by the Maranello team over the radio to pit earlier than his eventual window, but Carlos Sainz pointed out that it would be better to continue on the Medium tyre, which Ferrari managed to run on for more than 30 laps, showing a great tyre management, which had been a key issue for the SF-23 in the pevious rounds of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Hailing the tactics adopted by Ferrari in the Canadian Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz concluded: “We definitely did a very good strategy. Staying out with both cars was the right call, the Medium was strong on our car all weekend since Friday and I could maximise the stint on the Medium. We trusted the Medium because of the second free practice session, we committed to it. The harder tyres are always a bit trickier on our car.”
