The two-time champion has been left without a seat for the upcoming 2025 season. Carlos Sainz (via IMAGO). It was recently revealed that Sainz will be leaving his current team after this season. The Spanish driver is determined to make the most of his final season with the red team and is fully committed to the challenge. After the conclusion of pre-season testing, Sainz expressed his thoughts on the SF-24 and its potential to compete against other teams.
After the tests in Bahrain, an approximate hierarchy emerged in the paddock. Experts believed that the reigning champions were still leading the pack, followed by a group composed of several other teams. It was also widely believed that the Scuderia was the best of the rest and the closest competitor to the Austrian constructor. Sainz, however, shared his expectations regarding the SF-24’s ability to surpass the RB20 in a recent interview.
“The SF-24 has provided us with a much more positive experience compared to the SF-23. Will it be enough to beat Red Bull? Honestly, I don’t believe so. We will have to wait for the first race to find out. I believe Red Bull will have a slight advantage, as their times on the C3 tire indicate,” Sainz stated.
The 29-year-old driver acknowledges that the car is in a much better position than it was a year ago. However, he dismisses the idea that they can match the performance of the Red Bulls as they have a significant advantage. Even during testing, Ferrari had the fastest times, but Red Bull was right behind them using a harder compound tire. Additionally, fuel loads were unknown to everyone, increasing speculation that Red Bull could be faster.
Throughout his time with the Maranello team, Sainz consistently fought a strong battle against his competitors. However, with the announcement of his departure from the team at the end of the season, the Spaniard has set clear goals for himself that he intends to achieve this year.
Sainz explained that his main priority is to start the year positively, building on the success he had in the 2023 season. The 29-year-old driver focused on understanding the intricacies of the car during testing in order to establish a strong connection between himself and the machine.
In addition, Sainz is now preparing for the season opener in Bahrain and is determined to make the most of it to attract the interest of other teams for the 2025 season.
