Carlos Sainz Jnr says that although the Ferraris were over a lap faster than McLaren or Alpine at Barcelona, a top speed deficit limited their overtaking opportunities.
After qualifying in sixth for the Spanish Grand Prix, Sainz was seventh behind Daniel Ricciardo, who overtook him at the start. He also lost a place to Sergio Perez but was able to pass Esteban Ocon’s Alpine.
“Unfortunately, my aim was to play catch-up after a bad start,” explained Sainz. “We had the pace to finish in front of all the cars I fought against – in front of Esteban, in front of Daniel.
“We were just faster than them, but it was very difficult for us to overtake. They had a much better top speed than us and I just couldn’t make the moves. It’s what happens in Barcelona when you don’t have the best starts and don’t end where you want. “
Sainz lost two places at the start, which he attributed in part to his ignorance of the car. “The start itself wasn’t bad, but it was exactly the way I was boxed into the first corner,” said Sainz.
“What is clear is that with the start system and the way we work and get the perfect start and the perfect first 100 meters, I need to get even better and a little safer, although I don’t think that was the main limitation.
“The main restriction was positioning the lap, getting in and out of the slipstream and then packing up behind Ocon in turn one and losing many positions to the cars on the outside.”
Sainz said team-mate Charles Leclerc put the right combination of experience with the car and himself in the best starting position to achieve a “perfect result”.
“First you have to put the weekend together completely and it comes from a good qualifying to drive the lap in the third quarter,” said Sainz. “Maybe I could have started earlier and then there would have been no problem at the start.
“That was what I was particularly good at at McLaren, putting together all weekend and that is what I need to keep improving as the races continue with this team to work at the highest level.”
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