Carlos Sainz is confident that it’s only “a matter of time” until he’s as quick as teammate Charles Leclerc. Like other drivers who have switched teams in 2021, Sainz has struggled to match his teammate as he adapts to a new environment. At Imola Sainz was only 11th in Q2, while Leclerc started fourth.
However, it’s worth mentioning that Sain’s individual sectors were as good as Charles’s. Carlos commented on the difference between him and Charles Leclerc.
He said, “I know he’s a qualifying expert. And particularly in the Ferrari, he looks to be really at home. Knowing exactly what to expect from the car. When it comes to Q2 and Q3 high grip conditions, and he’s an expert, he’s a very, very good driver. But at the same time if there’s something that I’ve seen during these first two races it’s that I’m not slower than him in any of the corners, really. So I know that if I put the laps together, I can be up there.”
Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari speaks with teammate Carlos Sainz on the grid during Day One of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Sainz has made a steady start to life at Ferrari, finishing in P8 in Bahrain and P5 in Imola to score a total of 14 points from the first two rounds. However, he has yet to beat Leclerc on either a Saturday or a Sunday. With the Monegasque again looking like one of the best on the grid in terms of outright pace. He’s confident that it won’t be long before he’s as fast as the other Ferrari, though.
