(Motorsport-Whole.com) – Carlos Sainz says the warning indicators of Ferrari’s struggles with race tempo in Method 1 began appearing late final yr. The Spaniard and his teammate Charles Leclerc have had issues with their SF-23 for lengthy stretches this season, which lacked consistency, particularly on Sundays.
This left the duo unable to match Purple Bull within the Grands Prix, though the automobile was usually very near the RB19 in qualifying. Whereas Ferrari have made strides in understanding what must be completed in latest weeks, they aren’t there the place they really feel assured they’ve thought-about all of the components that come into play.
As for the explanations behind Ferrari’s sudden difficulties, Sainz says there have been already indicators over the previous yr that there was a query mark over Ferrari’s race tempo.
Sainz: Racing tempo was already lacking on the finish of 2022
“I feel should you analyze the entire thing a bit, you could possibly already see within the second half of final yr that we had a automobile that might struggle for pole place, however within the race we have been at all times overwhelmed by Purple Bull,” says Sainz.
“Individuals usually blamed it on technique. However truly, I feel lots of occasions within the race we simply weren’t as fast as they have been, like in Budapest or Austin, or in locations the place we have been on pole after which falling behind.”
“Perhaps the distinction was that we have been a tenth forward on pole after which we have been two or three tenths down within the race. However the delta this yr is we’re half a second down in qualifying after which eight tenths down within the race. It so perhaps some greater deltas.”
Doubts in regards to the Ferrari automobile’s consistency in racing velocity over the previous yr got here after the group had already dedicated to the idea of the SF-23, so the weaknesses have been included into this season’s design.
Did Ferrari see the issues too late?
Sainz says Ferrari couldn’t have recognized on the time what the state of affairs was like, particularly as rival Purple Bull solely actually received going in the midst of the season. Talking on when Ferrari dedicated to the 2023 design, Sainz mentioned: “I feel it is one thing fascinating as a result of should you look again over the past yr, when this automobile was born we have been nonetheless very aggressive.”
“So we did not have time to understand how the second a part of the season was going to go. We did not know that the automobile would battle at race velocity. Within the first six, seven races of the season we have been racing quick and quick in qualifying. And that is in all probability why this automobile was born that approach.”
“And since you decide to a automobile or an idea after six or seven races, we would have these robust first six races of the season as effectively [2022] confidence on this idea and this automobile. If the second half of the season had come earlier, perhaps it could have been the primary half [von 2023] been simpler. You possibly can take a look at it each methods.”
Sainz: SF-23 not comfy to drive
“That is why Method 1 is so sophisticated and so obscure. It is really easy to criticize from the skin. You simply have to just accept it, react, be sure you’re taking the fitting steps and maintain working as a group .”
Whereas it took Sainz a while to familiarize himself with the 2022 automobile, this yr he appears to have a greater deal with on issues – even when the automobile is not as aggressive in comparison with the rivals. However regardless of appearances, Sainz admits that even the SF-23 is not a automobile that evokes confidence when pushed to the restrict.
“I will not lie, the sensation with the automobile remains to be not good,” he says. “It isn’t a automobile that I drive to the restrict and I am comfy with it on the restrict. It is a automobile that may shock you. It is a automobile that is tough. You possibly can see it from the skin, however not less than I do know roughly methods to set it up and methods to drive it.”
“As soon as I’ve these two variables underneath management, I do know that I can put the automobile roughly the place it is presupposed to be each weekend. Except for Baku, a weekend that I nonetheless do not perceive and can by no means perceive , I used to be just about the place the automobile must be each different weekend, and in that sense I am happy with it.”
“However I am not glad both as a result of I nonetheless wish to take pleasure in extra and push extra and I do not wish to fall behind within the race. I wish to look forward. I do not wish to spend races wanting within the rear-view mirror. And that is it , which we at the moment are attempting to enhance.”
Sainz is hoping for an early Ferrari breakthrough
Ferrari’s tough transition into 2023 got here in opposition to a backdrop of administration change, with group boss Mattia Binotto resigning and being changed by Fred Vasseur. One of many fears expressed following Binotto’s retirement was that the group would lose technical continuity because the Italian had a deep understanding of the automobile’s design facets.
When requested if he felt Binotto’s exit affected issues, Sainz mentioned: “I do not know and I will by no means know. We’ll by no means understand how a lot of an affect he made. However I wish to imagine that each one adjustments are for the higher and can quickly repay.”
“I feel we will see progress. Truthfully, I feel with all of the testing we’re doing and all of the issues we’re discovering, finally we will attain a degree the place we begin discovering one thing. However time will present.”
Sainz: Ferrari wants that now!
“I feel every little thing is beginning to work,” he says. “It is simply very tough to again that up with proof when you’ve weekends like Barcelona the place you continue to really feel a bit unhealthy.”
“I feel the extra weekends we do, like Charles in Baku and I do in Australia, and the extra optimistic weekends we have now and the extra proof, the extra encouragement we’ll have. However proper now. I’d say it is tough to point out that.”
“However I’ve full confidence in Fred, in the best way he handles issues and in the best way he leads the group. I’ve to say I am very impressed. And I get on very effectively with him I like how he thinks, his concepts and the course he sees for Ferrari,” mentioned Sainz.
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Printed : 2023-06-27 06:11:37
