Carlos Sainz will contest his last Spanish GP with Scuderia Ferrari this weekend. The Spaniard in Barcelona seeks not only redemption after the DNF in Canada, but also a seat for 2025. Williams, Audi, these are the main hypotheses for Sainz interviewed in the press conference on the eve of the Catalan weekend. In Spain the top teams arrive paired. The gaps between McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes at this stage of the championship have in fact decreased. In Barcelona, Ferrari, which left Canada with 0 points, will however be able to count on a second package of updates after the one brought to Imola. A step to try to recover in those critical areas, especially with regards to qualification.
Sainz, the choice soon
Time is now running out, we are approaching the summer break and Sainz wants to put the "future" issue to rest so he can dedicate himself to the last races with the Reds. There are several options on the table for Sainz, each with its own pros and cons. The top teams don't have a place for Sainz, but now as he himself says:“It's time to decide about my future.” Many others also depend on his movements. The market is in fact still at a standstill waiting for Sainz to find his place.
“I don't want to wait any longer and this situation has been taking up too much space in my head for months. I hope there will be news very soon. It's not clear to me yet where to go, it's a decision I have to make on my team. In recent weeks I have been thinking about Spain and not about all this, which I will do in the coming weeks."
Updates in Barcelona
Ferrari has decided to bring forward its development program to try not to slip in the constructors' standings given the advance of McLaren which has scored 88 points in the last three races. For the occasion, the Red Team will test some new features on the SF-24, also trying to take advantage of the completeness of the circuit to direct future developments. In Canada, Ferrari suffered in particular from the cold and variable conditions, also paying the price for the choice of set-up. With such small gaps, a double 0 becomes really difficult to digest. Sainz will have to do it immediately, as it is also his last home race with Ferrari.
"We hope that these updates can bring us an advantage in aerodynamic terms, and which can therefore bring us profit. But in F1 there is no magic wand and we are all close, now also with Mercedes. So even small helps make a difference now. Unfortunately in Canada we weren't able to do well in terms of tyres, as well as with the trim. But it was an anomalous weekend and it fits in 24 races. Now we arrive at a more normal race and we already know everything as it is a very well-known circuit. Doing well here would then mean doing well on other tracks like Hungary and Silverstone."
The objective remains victory
With two victories in 9 races, Ferrari is the second most successful team this season. Both Sainz and Charles were able to savor the taste of victory, although here it would obviously be a completely different story for the Spaniard. “For the Spanish GP I expect a compact grid, chaotic Q1 and Q2 – says Carlos Sainz. The first teams will be closed within one or two tenths. On the chances of winning here? It would be wonderful obviously, the possibility is always there, but let's wait until Friday to say it. Because we have to understand if we are in the conditions of Imola and Miami or of Monaco. The hierarchies will perhaps change a little.”
Source statements: sky sports f1
