Carlos Sainz has qualified behind Max Verstappen for the Sprint race. The Spanish driver, who has had success in the past two seasons, was unable to secure a higher position in qualifying and will start in fifth place for tomorrow’s race in Shanghai. Despite this setback, Sainz remains optimistic about his team’s performance and believes they have a chance to compete for the win.
Formula 1 returned to China after a five-year absence, and the unfamiliarity of the track posed a challenge for the drivers. The addition of the Sprint race this weekend, coupled with rainy conditions during qualifying, made the task even more difficult.
Despite finishing in fifth place, Carlos Sainz is not ruling out his chances of winning the Sprint race. He explained that the Ferrari team struggled with their tires during qualifying, particularly in the rain. This forced them to try different approaches, which ultimately affected their performance. However, Sainz is confident that if the Sprint race were held in dry conditions, the Ferraris would have a significant advantage and would be the ones to watch out for.
Although Sainz believes he has the potential to compete for the win, he admits that he is not fully comfortable with the car. He finished more than two seconds behind the pole position time in the Sprint Shootout, indicating that there is room for improvement. Sainz plans to make adjustments to the car’s setup once the parc ferme restrictions are lifted, focusing on improving rear-end stability and other crucial elements.
Despite these concerns, Carlos Sainz is expected to perform well in the Sprint race and may even challenge for a podium finish. He will then shift his focus to Sunday’s race, where the opportunity to earn significant points awaits.