Carlos Sainz will start from the second row in the Miami Grand Prix, and will only have two opponents up front: Leclerc and Verstappen. An overall positive result, considering the Spaniard's difficulties since the beginning of the weekend. So let's see Sainz's statements at the end of the match qualifications of the Miami GP.
Sainz satisfied with his lap
Sainz started the weekend with some difficulties, experiencing a less than entirely satisfactory feeling with the SF-24. A non-optimal set-up initially penalized him during the races Sprint qualifications, and subsequently in Sprint Race. Over the course of the 19 laps of the Sprint, Sainz was unable to overtake Daniel Ricciardo's VISA Cash App RB, thus finishing in fifth position.
“I couldn't get past Daniel this morning, though I knew that the pace was there and that with a clean qualifying I could finish in the top three – said Carlos Sainz at the end of qualifying for the Miami GP.
Things went better once we returned to the track, for the Grand Prix qualifying where Sainz placed in an excellent third position. A result which currently puts aside the Spaniard's difficulties in the first phase of the weekend. In the race, however, Sainz will have to defend himself from Perez, trying to keep his position and bring home an important podium.
“We managed to do some clean laps and it was really complicated with the new soft tyres, because warming them up every lap is a bit of an adventure as you never know exactly how the wind will go, and adding all these things together the lap was good. When you finish the lap you always think you could have gone a little faster with a clean lap, though It's almost impossible to get a perfect ride here because there is always a place where you slip, one where you overheat your tires or one where the wind hits you differently so it's a very difficult track to drive on and find balance. That said, I think starting from third place on the clean side can be positive tomorrow."
Sainz: “Max is unbeatable, but having two cars in front gives us a chance”
Carlos Sainz knows that in the race it will be difficult if not impossible to attack Max. So far there has never been a concrete opportunity to do so, also considering that in all the races he has started from Pole. Compared to the Sprint, Leclerc will perhaps try a more aggressive approach at the start, but the race is long and Ferrari must think about defending the double podium from Sergio Perez's other Red Bull.
"Beat Verstappen? Realistically, if we look at the statistics, when Max starts from pole we know that it is always difficult to beat him, but having two cars in front is our best chance to do it: we will do our best even if it will be complicated."
Source statements: sky sports f1
