Vasseur raises Sainz’s result when having to drive without confidence between the walls

There are weekends when you are very comfortable and can get the most out of the car. There are others, where the pilot suffers and must prioritize not making mistakes and minimizing damage. In Australia, Carlos Sainz overtook Leclerc and was more comfortable in the car. In Baku it is the opposite. From the start of the weekend, the Spaniard did not feel comfortable and neither did the car give him the necessary confidence to aim for pole position or the podium. And not having confidence in a route as complicated as the one in Baku, where any mistake can lead you to the wallIt just got more complicated. but, Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principalwould like to highlight the result achieved by Sainz (5th in Baku), without making a mistake despite driving difficulties in a difficult weekend for him.

Sainz has suffered this weekend, since Friday. He lost confidence and here it’s like in Monaco, it’s hard to drive without confidence (in the car). Especially in this format (from weekend to sprint, with only one free practice. and the cars in parc fermé after Friday’s qualy), you don’t have time. I’m satisfied with 5th place”pointed out the head of the Maranello team.

Sainz followed suit by minimizing the damage

In fact, Carlos Sainz already ensured his goal on Saturday this weekend “reduce harm”. He could not maintain fourth place against Alonso’s Aston Martin, which was faster and had less damage, and Fernando did not chase Leclerc because he was hurt by the exit of the ‘Safety Car’ when the Asturian took advantage of his lower moderate rubber breakdown. But he managed to keep a 7-time champion like Hamilton, without giving him a chance to overtake him despite the uncomfortable driving in his Ferrari.

“This weekend, at least I saved 5th, which I didn’t want or what I expected from myself, but I’m sure that in Miami I’ll be back on track”Sainz commented on this on ‘DAZN F1’, sure that in Miami the film is very different.

In addition, in a complex layout where any mistake could be synonymous with an accident and abandonment, he made it clear that he had the goal of not making steering mistakes despite the difficulties he felt. Great effort rewarded with 5th place, 10 more points to finish 5th in the F1 World Championship, 14 points behind Hamilton after four races.

“Compared to last year, I set myself the goal of not making mistakes at the beginning of the season, which I did last year during the difficult weekends”explained Sainz, knowing that his second half of the year is always better, and that all the points he can score and not relinquish in the first part of this season will be welcomed at the end of the year.

“Leclerc loves Ferrari”

For his part, Vasseur emphasized Leclerc’s commitment to Ferrari after his doubtful response on Thursday to rumors of a possible future at Mercedes and praised the performance of the Monegasque, author of two pole positions this weekend in Baku and two podium finishes. , in the sprint race and the appointment on Sunday.

“Leclerc is a Ferrari driver, he loves Ferrari and he wants to be champion here. We are at the beginning of the season, there will be a lot of rumours, but this is not an argument for discussion. Leclerc had a perfect weekend, both in qualifying and in the race,” Vasseur said of Ferrari’s number ’16’.