Carlos Sainz expressed optimism that Ferrari’s recent upgrades could keep the Italian team in the 2024 Formula 1 title race following Charles Leclerc’s impressive victory at Monza. While Sainz himself finished fourth behind the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, he was encouraged by Ferrari’s improved race pace, which played a crucial role in Leclerc’s win.
Sainz lamented losing the draft from the McLarens after they pitted, which left him struggling to maintain pace. “Today we were in a genuine race with the McLarens,” Sainz remarked, highlighting the impact of losing the aerodynamic tow from the cars ahead. “I think I lost the tow around lap 15 when they boxed, and I could really feel how slow you become without it. They formed a train of three cars, and I was in the middle of nowhere with Lewis [Hamilton] in my tow following my pace. But I genuinely think today we were in the race with the McLarens, which was great to see.”
However, Sainz was cautious in his assessment of the upgrades, noting that Monza’s unique characteristics might not fully reveal their effectiveness. “At the same time, it’s Monza—a very particular circuit. We’ll need to wait to see more normal tracks to see if this upgrade has really turned our season around and if we’re going to fight for wins from now on, or if we’ll go back to what we saw in Zandvoort.”
Sainz emphasized the need for further testing on different circuits to determine the true impact of Ferrari’s upgraded floor. “We need more samples on this new floor and we need to go to more normal tracks. I guess the next normal one is Austin because the ones coming up [Baku and Singapore] are very particular. Austin will be more of a normal race track, and that will tell us how good we are with this new floor.”
In the race, while Sainz played a supporting role, Leclerc capitalized on a strategic shift, executing a one-stop strategy that allowed him to clinch victory. Sainz acknowledged that his inability to stay in the fight for the podium was a missed opportunity but remained pleased with the team’s overall performance.
“It’s been an incredible weekend for me,” Sainz said. “I’ve enjoyed it a lot. It’s a shame not to be on the podium today, but honestly, I’m very happy to see the team winning here this weekend. I wish I was up there with Charles, but I think he deserves the win more than anyone today, so congrats.”
As Sainz prepares to leave Ferrari at the end of the season, his focus remains on contributing to the team’s success in the remaining races, hoping the upgrades will keep Ferrari competitive in the championship battle.
