Carlos Sainz Jr from Spain, driving for Ferrari SF-24, took part in the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 9, Canadian Grand Prix, held in Montreal, Canada, on 08.06.2024. During the qualifying day, Sainz explained the reason behind Ferrari’s decision to use new tires earlier in Q2, which was to anticipate an expected rain.
Ferrari had a tough qualifying session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with both drivers struggling for grip and failing to reach the top-10. Charles Leclerc expressed his frustration with the team’s decision to start the second phase with new soft tires, as it did not bring the desired results.
Sainz, who qualified in 12th place just behind Leclerc, revealed that Ferrari was looking to take advantage of the newer tires in anticipation of the rain that ultimately did not arrive. He explained that the team believed the track conditions would be better early in the session.
In Sainz’s own words, “Normally, if it was any other track, starting at the end of the session would still allow us to reach Q3 and fight for pole position. But when you don’t execute those details perfectly and don’t have a fast car, that’s when you get caught.”
Ferrari’s strong performance in Monaco, where they showed superior grip in corners and obstacles, led to expectations of a good performance in Montreal. However, the resurfaced track and cooler conditions were not used as excuses by Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur.
Vasseur emphasized that the new asphalt affected all teams equally and that the challenging weather conditions were also not an excuse. He acknowledged that the conditions were the same for everyone and that Ferrari needed to deal with them.
Vasseur also addressed the limited track time due to the bad weather on Friday, stating that all teams had the same opportunity to perform. He emphasized that other teams were able to make the most of the situation, and Ferrari needed to do a better job in similar circumstances.
Despite the difficulties faced in qualifying, Vasseur remained optimistic about Ferrari’s race pace. He expressed hope that the predicted rain on race day could create a chaotic race, presenting an opportunity for Ferrari to recover and score valuable points.
Vasseur concluded by stating that in challenging times, teams must be opportunistic and maximize their performance to achieve the best possible result.
