Un Carlos Sainz still in pain brings his car to second place in qualifying for the Australian GP. Considering that it wasn't 100%, the result is positive.
Sainz heroic: his words after qualifying for the Australian GP
If he recorded the best time in Q1 and Q2, in Q3 he could do nothing against Verstappen's 1:35. Staccato of +0,270 sec. Sainz, however, says he is happy to the microphones sky sports f1:
"It's been a very difficult two weeks. I spent two days in bed and didn't know if I was going to be there or not. In the end I managed to be here and I managed to start on the front row. I almost didn't believe it, it was really hard but I'm very satisfied. I'm happy to be able to battle with the Red Bulls. Yesterday I was a little rusty, but today I managed to find my pace again and I feel very good with the car. If they had told me this two weeks ago I wouldn't have believed it".
Carlos Sainz found it difficult to change in turns 9-10. This forcing made him leave over three and a half tenths at that point. Pole was doable, with the SF-24 which gave the impression of being the best car on the track for long stretches, while the RB20 suffered from understeer in the third sector, even though it is very fast on the straight.
However, Carlos could do nothing against Max.
Difficult race, but it's right to believe in victory
But tomorrow is the race. If so far in the various sessions he has always completed 15/20 laps, the Spaniard will have to do 53 before crossing the finish line. Not a few, considering his condition. In this regard, Carlos Sainz declares:
"I'm trying to avoid overexertion to preserve myself for the race. So far I have done stints of 15/20 laps but tomorrow I will have to do 58 in a row and it will be tough. But I have no pain in the car, only jolting, and day after day I feel better physically"
Regarding the match, Sainz is confident of a good performance:
"Tomorrow's race? I'm not in perfect condition when I drive, I'm not going to lie. But I think I can do it and as long as I can do it without too much pain it's fine. Clearly it's difficult and uncomfortable, but I'm not in too much pain, so I'll push. To beat Max you have to be 100%: I'm not, but I'll give everything".
Carlos says he is positive, despite everything: “With perfect work you can win“. In fact, during free practice, Ferrari demonstrated that it had a better race pace than Red Bull, which was suffering from tire degradation.
Believing it is right, nothing is impossible.
