Sainz explains F1 “strange scenario” to unleash in Styria

The Spaniard was embroiled in a close battle with McLaren’s Lando Norris for fifth place in the Red Bull Ring race, but their fight was interrupted when Sainz was stopped when he was lapped by Hamilton.

After Sainz had to let the second-placed Mercedes through after a change to hard tires, Sainz quickly found himself in support as the world champion fought for the pace.

Unsure of what to do when Norris drove away from him, Sainz said Ferrari had to radio broadcast to Mercedes that he had to get through.

“It was a very, very strange scenario,” explained Sainz. “I came out of the pits on the hard and was really looking forward to catching up with Lando because we had the pace.

“Unfortunately I had to let Lewis pass because I was getting blue flags while warming up the temperature and from then on I expected Lewis to move away.

“But for some reason Mercedes had a bit of problems with the tires and I was a bit faster than him. I didn’t want to do anything stupid either, because I know he’s fighting for the championship and is P2 in this race.”

“I didn’t want to compromise his race either, but at the same time I was a little impatient because I saw that we weren’t going to catch up with Lando and that he wasn’t going to overtake Lando.

“So at some point, together with my team, we found a way to convey to Mercedes that it would be very nice of them if they could let us by. I came to the DRS and then they let us by and I could start the pursuit. ” Lando again.

“But I lost 15 laps behind Lewis, which were pretty important for us to at least make an announcement and put Lando under pressure. So yeah, those 15 laps behind him that destroyed the front tires and tried to get inside the DRS come weren’t ideal. “

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On team radio, Sainz asked his Ferrari pit wall if they could speak to Mercedes and ask Hamilton to switch.

He asked, “Can’t you talk to Mercedes and tell them I’ll leave, please?”

Ferrari confirmed it would see what it could do and shortly afterwards Ferrari said to Sainz, “You can try to unlap yourself.”

Sainz then wondered if it was too risky to try while Hamilton was informed by his pit wall that they would like to let Sainz through.

Ferrari then informed Sainz that Hamilton had been told to let him pass as he further delapped.

Then, after waving to Hamilton as he was moving forward, Sainz said, “I owe Lewis one thanks guys.”

Although Sainz couldn’t catch up with Norris and come home in sixth, the overall performance of his season so far was perhaps his best.

“In clean air we managed to start at a very competitive pace, more competitive than the McLaren and very close to the leaders,” he said. “Since then the feeling with the car has been incredible and it has generally been just a quick analysis, probably my most complete race since joining Ferrari.

“I’m pretty proud of the entire speed management and tire management.”