Sainz’s message after his pole says it all

After a very close battle with Verstappen and Leclerc on the last lap of the qualifying session United States F1 GP, Carlos Sainz he got the message he needed. “P1, dude”They told him on the radio. And there it was when he launched into a phrase he said: “I know the pole position is still coming. I told you so”. A big thorn was removed after what had been happening to him for so many races. He went from Japan’s disappointment to joy at defeating Charles and Max in a fierce duel. He hit the table.

Two weeks ago, Carlos’s comments were forceful after missing out on pole at Suzuka by just 52 thousandths. “I’m a bit tired of being half tenth off pole. I’ve been qualifying like that since Zandvoort before the summer, where the three of us were tight for that pole, but somehow the pole always fell to Max (Verstappen). or Charles (Leclerc) instead of me. Hopefully I can get a pole before the end of the season”, he pointed out”, knowing that he has to take that one more step and find the thousandths that Max and Charles can do. get a hit to the table and send a message of strength to everyone, including the Italian press, which is more favorable to Leclerc, and to all the tifosi.

Many races hold the pole

In Austria, Carlos was 82 thousandths from pole, just 53 thousandths from Leclerc’s second place. In Hungary, Russell took pole from Sainz at the horn by just 44 thousandths. At Zandvoort he was 92 thousandths from Max’s pole position and 71 from Leclerc. In Italy, not having a slipstream on his last lap and his engine change penalty also left him without that prize. In qualifying for the Japanese GP it happened again. But not only in the last races. At the beginning of the course, when he was not comfortable with the Ferrari, he stayed close.

In the first round of the year in Bahrain, he was 0″129 from pole, just 6 thousandths from second. Or for example, in Miami, where he was 2nd, one tenth behind Leclerc. While his confidence in the car, is getting closer. and closer. He hit the table at Silverstone in his first pole position, putting 72 thousandths on Verstappen and 3 tenths on Leclerc. And he repeated first place on the grid in Belgium thanks to Verstappen’s penalty after finishing second in ‘ quality”. But since then, the Spaniard broke them but he couldn’t. He had to end that streak and he did so with a great last lap in Austin, with all the pressure from Ferrari in his hands as Leclerc had to be penalized 10 places.

Therefore, his “I know it, I know it’s coming”, gained more strength. Especially, in an environment with maximum pressure like Ferrari and after a year in which Carlos regrets that he was not able to take advantage of a car capable of winning races to achieve more victories like Charles. The car did not adapt to his driving and he had to start a difficult path, adapting himself to the single-seater, having to change things that came from his own will, instinctively, something very complicated to do. In this last section he was able to catch up with Charles, but he was still one step short of what he did yesterday in qualifying.

A turn complicated by the wind

“The lap was fun, very fun, but very complicated because of the wind changes. In all the corners there are a lot of gusts of wind and every one is an adventure in these cars because you don’t know how much grip you have. I managed to do a lap without making mistakes and a pole position that has been a long time coming, very close to many qualys on a dry road, but it has not yet arrived”, he pointed out of the car. , containing his joy because he knows now Sunday, achieving victory will be very difficult despite his first starting spot.

“I will not lie to you. I think for tomorrow the Red Bulls are the favourites, they tend to have a better race pace and usually catch up to us. Great job by Max and Red Bull have a great car for race day. We will do everything we can to try and stay at the front and try to win the race, which will be a fantastic way to start a fantastic way to start the last four races.”