Speaking at the FIA press conference in Zandvoort, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz said the team’s engineers have not yet been able to fully understand the characteristics of the SF-23 car, making it impossible to assess the team’s chances in the Dutch Grand Prix predictable .
Carlos Sainz: “I slept well and spent my summer vacation as usual with my family and friends. We’re only halfway through the season, so it was impossible to completely switch off and not think about Formula 1. I thought about the remaining races and tried to keep my form – the approach to rest was slightly different than during the winter break. However, I have rested and am now fully prepared for work.
How is the mood at Ferrari? We are now trying to understand the characteristics of this year’s car as best we can. The team is trying something new every weekend, because all the information they get will make the 2024 car faster.
In addition, we spend a lot of time on the simulator, evaluating different decisions and doing our best to make a difference this season. This year’s car lacks stability, so it’s very difficult to predict which track we will be fast on, and which will have problems.
I think the best illustration of my words is the difference in our form in Hungary and in Spa. We counted on a successful weekend in Hungary and expected problems in Spa, but in reality everything turned out the other way around. This shows that we don’t fully understand the machine, which prevents us from making accurate predictions.
We are trying to deal with the unpredictability of SF-23, and this is our goal not only for the weekend in Zandvoort, but also for the second half of the season.
In theory Zandvoort suits us, but I don’t know how it will work out in practice. We can only speak with confidence about the fact that there is a close battle in the peloton. Yes, Red Bull is ahead, but we are fighting against Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren.
Two tenths determine whether we are at the head of this group or behind it. We can qualify in second or third place, as well as in eighth or ninth place. I think it’s going to be a tough fight this weekend.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
