Ferrari arrives in Canada after a victory in Monaco that revitalised the team’s championship hopes. On the eve of the Montreal weekend, Carlos Sainz explained why the Maranello team can aspire to the Constructors’ title. The Spaniard also addressed questions about this f1 future.
SAINZ: “RED BULL IS ALWAYS A BIT OF A FAVOURITE”
The 2024 F1 season has been energised by the latest results, with Ferrari and McLaren able to challenge Red Bull. According to Sainz, despite the decline in the last period, the Austrian team remains the slight favourite:
“All three of us are very close, anyone can win. For me, Red Bull is always a bit of a favourite, they are the ones who have won the most in recent months and years, but we will have our chances. McLaren could have taken pole in Monaco. It means that we are all very close, and it will be the same this weekend.”
Sainz was also asked about Red Bull’s weaknesses, which were first revealed in Singapore last year. Sainz emphasises the importance of keeping the pressure on the reigning Champions and capitalising on any chances
“I don’t know exactly what their problems are, but it seems that in places like Singapore and Monaco, both we and McLaren have been extremely competitive compared to them. Then we go to Imola, maybe to Barcelona, and they fly. So, it will be about maximising our opportunities in certain circuits.
“They will still dominate at other tracks, so let’s wait and see how the year develops, but at least we’ve made it a little more interesting .”
CONSTRUCTORS’ TITLE OPPORTUNITY FOR FERRARI
While Ferrari and Red Bull’s cars perform similarly, the Scuderia enjoys the benefit of a stronger lineup.
The result in Monte Carlo allowed Ferrari to move to -24 behind Red Bull in the Constructors’ World Championship, and Sainz confirms that this is one of the objectives of the Maranello team:
“The Constructors’ title is feasible at the moment. We are close, even considering that I missed a race and we lost a few points there – otherwise, we could have been even closer. It’s our goal, it won’t be easy because Red Bull has made a very strong start to the season and it won’t be easy to have a similar roster to recover all those points. As a pair of drivers and as a team, we are doing well on Saturday and Sunday. If we continue like this, we can do it .”
Speaking of his and Charles Leclerc’s performance, Sainz believes the two Ferrari drivers push themselves to give their best to each other:
“The important thing is that while he is doing a great race, I’m having a good race too. When I won in Australia, he finished second, and that’s what makes us such a strong team, and that’s why we have so many points in the championship, and we’re also thinking of having a great fight with all the manufacturers.
“So I think it was fantastic to see him win in Monaco, just as it was fantastic to get the victory in Australia. The important thing is that we always push each other, being next to each other in terms of quality and race. It’s a good situation for us .”
WHERE WILL SAINZ GO IN 2026? THE SPANIARD STILL TAKES HIS TIME
The other issue that Sainz inevitably finds himself facing on the eve of a grand prix is that of the drivers’ market. This week, Red Bull announced the renewal of Perez’s contract, while Alpine confirmed their separation from Esteban Ocon at the end of the year. Regarding the Mexican’s confirmation, Sainz did not declare himself surprised:
“A few months ago, I was talking to every single team on the grid. Of course, we had some conversations with Red Bull, but they made this decision. I have known about this decision for a while now .”
There don’t seem to be any seats available in top-tier teams on the horizon for Sainz:
“I’ve known this for a while, no surprise for me,” the Spaniard said on the matter. I’ve already known about the conversations and news you see today for months. It will certainly be like this, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t have a good future ahead of me.
“I’ve talked to a lot of teams who really want me, and this makes me feel good as a driver and for what’s to come.”
In recent days, the news of Sainz’s arrival at Williams has been bouncing around Spain. In this regard, the Spaniard insists on calm:
“Even though there is a lot of talk about it in Spain, I have not yet signed anything with Williams. Negotiations are still ongoing with the teams we are talking to, I’m waiting for them to be finalised.
“I will make my decision when we sit down at the table. So far, I’ve left it up to my management and my team to negotiate and put together all the options in front of me. Then I’ll have to sit down and make a decision. I think I’ve never lied that there are a lot of options on the table for me right now, which I want to think about calmly and be very honest with you
