Carlos Sainz's season began with a big question mark over his post-Ferrari future but despite the uncertainties the response on the track is quite remarkable. Sainz already boasts a victory, and has never missed the podium in the three races in which he took part, beating his teammate 3-0. Which, in a normal season would already be an excellent result. Let alone in the season of farewell to Ferrari. However, this "precariousness" does not seem to scare him, on the contrary. There is a rush to get married. But the priority is to achieve the best possible results in these last few months with the Red Team, which is clearly growing compared to last year. Regarding his future, several possibilities have opened up. Some more immediate. Others are part of a time-consuming project. Interviewed by Roberto Chinchero for Motorsport.com Italy Carlos Sainz on the eve of the weekend in China therefore took stock of the weekend that awaits him and his current situation.
The good feeling with the SF-24 and the imminent farewell
Compared to Charles Leclerc Sainz seems to have read the SF-24 better, and this is thanks to the greater predictability in behavior. An ideal situation for a driver who must be able to trust his vehicle. “The SF-24 is more stable. Last year, during a qualifying lap or during a race, there were problems that we didn't understand where they came from, a situation that took away our confidence. This year, since the winter tests in Bahrain, we have never come across moments like this, so far in every qualifying and every race the car has always been stable, and this allows you to get closer to the limit more often, you have more confidence and consequently more performance."
The comparison with Leclerc also sees Sainz excelling in what has always been the Monegasque's hunting ground, namely qualifying. This allowed Sainz to start in front and, with the pace, also direct the strategies in his favor.
Sainz's start to the season is undoubtedly the best since he joined Ferrari, and the credit, beyond his own work, according to the Spaniard, goes above all to the Ferrari single-seater, the second force in the championship. “Some seasons you have a better car available than others. This year it seems that we have found a good compromise between qualifying and the race. Then… yes, I'm driving at a very good level, at least I think so, but I've already done it in Formula 1 at a good level.”
The separation from Ferrari
Regarding his farewell to Ferrari, Sainz does not hide his regret, given the growth of the team in the last season. “This is my fourth year at Ferrari, I spent a lot of time in Maranello trying to help the team, we developed a project together which is now starting to bear fruit. It's something that makes me feel very happy about what we're seeing this year but also a little sad that we won't be able to continue the journey together. I feel like we're doing a good job, everything is taking the right shape, especially in view of the regulatory changes in 2026. But that's life, it wasn't my decision, but I like to think that the future could hold something even better for me."
How the team's research continues
One of the hottest topics is linked to the drivers market. Sainz had recently been linked to Mercedes, looking for a replacement for Hamilton's seat, and Aston Martin. Alonso's renewal made it possible to definitively discard this hypothesis. In addition to the already established teams there is also the Audi hypothesis which however is part of a more long-term project given that it will enter in 2026. The timescale for a definitive choice would still be long according to Sainz, who would like to find a solution as soon as possible.
“My best options are still open, but it will take time for everyone to make their decisions. There has been no progress in the last two weeks, and although this situation does not affect my performance on the track, I hope that clarity can be clarified as soon as possible. "
Regarding the choice and the offers, Sainz explained that he wanted to look for the best option, without settling. “It depends on what they offer you and the type of project. A driver always looks for the fastest option available, especially considering the shape I'm in, I think if I have the right car I can win races and get on the podium, as I'm proving this year. This is my number one priority, then there are other very interesting medium-term options that I am considering anyway.”
Carlos Sainz's expectations for the weekend in China
China returns to the calendar this year after a long forced absence of 5 years. Sainz wasn't even racing for Ferrari when it last raced here. There are many unknowns related to the Sprint weekend and tire management. According to Sainz, however, the values that we could see in China will not differ much from those seen in Suzuka, a stage where Red Bull achieved a very important double.
"There are many unknowns, the asphalt seems to have been treated in a very particular way and I don't think the FIA and the teams fully understand what has been done, a total resurfacing or a resurfacing of the asphalt. It looks very unique, something we haven't found recently on other circuits, and what's more we will only have one free practice session. Then, if I look at the track layout, I see more Suzuka than Australia, which makes me think that from a performance point of view we should be more about the values on the field of Japan rather than Melbourne. But I hope I'm wrong."
“Graining is very dependent on asphalt, that's why we talked so much about asphalt treatment. Once you take that out of the equation, very long corners put enormous stress on the tire, and we have a lot of that here. We won't have much time to set up the car, so it's all about simulation and FP1, we've got an interesting weekend ahead of us."
