Sainz: We have to go through trial and error

Carlos Sainz took a risk in Monaco when he refused to follow the team’s instructions during the race to go to the pits for intermediate tires, preferring to stay on track, switching straight to slicks. But this tactic turned out to be the right one and he could very well have won the race had he not gotten behind Nicholas Latifi’s Williams after leaving the pit lane.

The Spaniard had a better weekend in Monaco than the previous three rounds of the season, although he still admits he isn’t 100% comfortable behind the wheel of a new Ferrari car that doesn’t quite suit his driving style. Gradually, however, Carlos is adapting to F1-75 and the team will try to take a number of measures in the second half of the year to speed up this process.

“I just need to be a little faster. We need to add one or two tenths – both in qualifying and in races – Sainz said after finishing in Monaco, where he took 2nd place. The sooner I pass, the sooner I will win I do my best to add.

From the video recordings it appears that I have not yet fully mastered this machine, that I am steering in a way that does not suit me. The F1-75 is too prone to oversteer for me, but that has to be taken into account. Either you have to adapt, or something has to be done to better tailor the car to your preferences.

In any case, both require time, knowledge and experience are required for this. But it has to be trial and error, and that’s what I’m doing now, trying to get better as soon as possible.”

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto is not too concerned about Sainz’s current form: “Carlos is having a hard time, but I have no doubt that he will be able to improve. He has this approach: he studies telemetry, tries to adopt different steering styles, tries to adapt. It will probably take him some time, but he will reach his goal.

Of course it’s important that he sees his mistakes and understands that you have to adapt to the car, but I think he’s working on himself and getting faster and faster.

Sainz says he is interested in this as it is a real test of his strength and abilities: “I enjoy it, for me this is a completely new experience when you have to fly in a slightly different way. It’s a different scenario, but I’m starting to get used to it. I have already learned a lot and plan to apply this experience in the remaining races of the season.

There are still a lot of them, the end of the championship is still a long way off, so there is something to fight for. I have no doubt that if I adapt and really feel the car, I will be able to show good results.”

After seven stages of the season, Sainz is 42 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen, and 33 points behind his partner. But there are still 15 races to go, and if Sainz quickly regains the form he was in at the end of last season, there’s a possibility he might even get a chance to fight for a title.