Carlos Sainz finished runner-up in the 2021 Monaco GP, but admitted that his podium was the “least enjoyable” of his career.
Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021 after spending two years with rival Team McLaren. It was in Monaco that he really announced his arrival at the Italian team, qualified in fourth place and finished P2 behind Max Verstappen in race P2. This was Sainz’s first podium with Ferrari and also his first in the Principality.
Despite finishing second, the Spaniard admitted in a recent interview with Marca that he didn’t particularly enjoy this weekend.
The former Renault driver believes he was on course for pole position during his final Q3 run before teammate Charles Leclerc crashed and the session came to an end. Starting a race from pole position in Monaco is a huge advantage for any driver and Sainz believes he could have won his first F1 race.
Congratulations on the P2 in Monaco! Really proud! What a special GP to get your first Ferrari podium. Well done @ScuderiaFerrari! 
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– # CarlosSainz # MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/ukg4xB2YAO
– Carlos Sainz (@CSainz_oficial) May 23, 2021
“Monaco is the least pleasant podium of my career,” he said. “I was really angry on Sunday. What happened to Charles and all that in qualifying. “
“I remember not recovering from the disappointment for three days because it was my first chance to win a race and take pole.”
Also read: Ferrari starlet’s brother Charles Leclerc shares vital information on his journey towards F1 in 2022
Leclerc is one of the fastest drivers Carlos Sainz has ever faced
Sainz had two quite successful seasons with McLaren before moving to Maranello. With the British team, he took his very first F1 podium in Interlagos in 2019 and with strong performances led McLaren to a P3 place the following year.
Despite his driving, his results often went under the radar and many people referred to him as “underrated”. However, he took the world of F1 by storm by finishing ahead of Ferrari’s “Golden Boy” Leclerc in their very first season as a teammate.
Fortune favored the Madrid-born driver in certain situations, but he was incredibly consistent the entire time, taking 4 0 of Ferrari’s 5 podiums in 2021. Sainz, on the other hand, sees his debut season as very challenging as he faced a driver as fast as Leclerc.
Ready for more of these two in 2022? #essereFerrari 
@ Carlossainz55 @Charles_Leclerc pic.twitter.com/r1XHzGZnop
– Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) January 2, 2022
“At Ferrari, I met one of the fastest drivers I’ve ever met,” added the 27-year-old. “A very complete driver.”
“I come from two very good years at McLaren. I wasn’t afraid to take on anyone or anything. The first half was tough. I had to adapt, but I got very fast in the second half and I feel very comfortable in the car.
“It enabled me to get results and races at the level that I expected from myself,” he concluded.
Also read: McLaren team boss reveals how the team was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy
