Carlos Sainz Jr, representing Ferrari, showed an impressive performance in the opening race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix. Sainz expressed his satisfaction in chasing Sergio Perez’s Red Bull, describing it as a pleasant surprise. Despite Max Verstappen’s dominant victory, Sainz managed to stay within a few seconds of Perez, securing a place on the podium.
Sainz shared his satisfaction with his performance, stating that he felt great throughout the race. Despite a less than ideal start, he effectively managed his tires and overtook several competitors on his way to the podium. He also expressed his surprise at being able to keep up with the Red Bull towards the end of the race, acknowledging the progress compared to the previous year.
The strategic choice of starting with soft tires and transitioning to two sets of hard compound tires helped Sainz in his pursuit of Perez. He praised the team for executing a clear plan and felt comfortable with the Pirelli hard compound. Although the tire presented some challenges, once properly heated, Sainz was able to push the car to its limit.
Looking ahead to the next race in Saudi Arabia, Sainz is hopeful that Ferrari can compete with the high-speed corner specialists from Red Bull and McLaren. He recognizes that it will be a new circuit for everyone and anticipates strong performances from McLaren and Red Bull, given their success on similar tracks last year. However, Sainz has confidence in Ferrari’s improvements in high-speed capabilities and believes they can also be strong contenders in Jeddah.
