Sainz: SF-24 is difficult to drive on wet roads all year round

In Brazil, Carlos Sainz failed to repeat the brilliant success of a week ago in Mexico City: the Sao Paulo Grand Prix ended for him when he flew off the track on the 39th lap. Summing up the weekend’s disappointing results, the Spanish Ferrari driver complained that the team had been suffering from handling problems on wet asphalt since the start of the year.

“It was a bad day, Sunday went badly from qualifying to the race,” the Spanish newspaper Marca quotes the Ferrari driver. – I started from the pit area, but couldn’t make much progress. It was very difficult to overtake in poor visibility.

I’m willing to admit that I made a few mistakes myself, which didn’t help, and of course I apologize to the entire team. However, our car is very difficult to drive on a wet track, and not just this weekend; that goes on all year round.

In addition, the settings also had to be chosen more correctly for such conditions, but I maintain that there was not a single rain session this year in which we were really fast. However, the last three races of the season should take place in dry weather conditions, so there is no need to worry.

In Sao Paulo I received a new engine, and this is positive: we replaced the power unit, because the Grand Prix of Las Vegas is just around the corner. Of course I would prefer to start from a higher position in Brazil, because then I could compete for points. But we decided to start from the pit lane to achieve success in the last three races with the new engine.

Hopefully they will be more successful and we should get our chance in Vegas. But the circuits where the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix take place are more suitable for McLaren, so we have to remain realistic.”

Despite the failed performance in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Sainz still occupies 5th place in the personal rankings and the Ferrari team retained 2nd place in the Constructors’ Championship.