For Carlos Sainz, the Brazilian GP It turned into a tough battle to contend with, dominated by rain, poor visibility and a single-seater, the SF-24, that seemed unwilling to cooperate in the extreme conditions. After a qualifying crash at the Senna S corner, the Spanish driver saw his race take a similar turn, crashing into the barriers at the Laranjinha, a tricky section that tested everyone.
A day to forget
Carlos Sainz’s Sunday was marked by a double blow. First, he went off the track in Q2 and then, during the race, a second accident at the Laranjinha corner, where his Ferrari ended up again in the barriers. “It’s true that I touched the line, but everyone else was using that line too,” explained the Spaniard. “So yes, it’s a real shame that it went that way.” For Sainz, the SF-24 was difficult to handle, with its response unpredictable on the wet, a condition that never allowed him to feel confident behind the wheel.
The SF-24: an unpredictable single-seater in the wet
Sainz made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the SF-24’s performance in wet conditions. This year, every time it rained, Ferrari seemed to struggle. “I’m usually quick in the wet, but this time it was impossible,” Sainz added, noting that the car was particularly unstable in these circumstances. The difficulties encountered not only compromised his personal performance, but also affected his contribution to the constructors’ championship, leading Sainz to apologise to the team for the mistakes.
An optimistic look towards the season finale
With three races left on the calendar, Sainz is still looking to make the most of the strategic choices made in Brazil. After his qualifying accident, Ferrari decided to replace the power unit and gearbox on the car, making him start from the pit lane to ensure a technical advantage in the final stages. “We chose to start from the pit lane precisely to take full advantage of the new engine in the last races,” Sainz explained. A choice whose value he understands, even though he admits that he would have preferred to start on the grid, knowing that the points zone was within reach.
Thinking about future events, the Spaniard sees Las Vegas as a track that could reward Ferrari's characteristics, while maintaining a cautious approach. While the Nevada circuit appears promising, Sainz believes that Qatar and Abu Dhabi could prove more treacherous, especially in favor of McLaren: “We have good chances in Las Vegas, but the last two races could prove more favorable to our rivals,"He concluded.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
