'It's A Shame': Admits 'Very Disappointed' Sainz After 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
F1Tuesday, 07 November 2023 at 23:00
Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Carlos Sainz reflected on the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Inrerlagos Circuit.
Carlos Sainz started the race in Sao Paulo from eighth position after not showing quite the same qualifying pace as in Mexico City, where Ferrari drivers scored one-two in qualifying.
The race went better for him compared to his teammate Charles Leclerc, who retired during the formation lap, but he finished in kind of a no-man's land in P6, 10 seconds behind Lance Stroll and 6 seconds clear of Pierre Gasly.
Even though he managed to finish the race, the Spanish driver was heard on the radio openly complaining about his clutch, saying: "I hope we bin this clutch as soon as we are back in Maranello."
The Ferrari driver mentioned he was suffering from the same issue all weekend and could not change it because of Parc Ferme rules that prevent teams from making significant changes to their cars.
"It was the same as [during the sprint race] and the same as every single start that I've done this weekend. I'm very disappointed because it obviously cost us some points in the cumulative of the weekend."
Sainz lost some places at the start of the race and then had to work his way back a bit, but nevertheless, the pace of his Ferrari was not enough to match Red Bull, Aston Martin, and McLaren.
"We've had a problem since the beginning of practice we haven't been able to adapt it to the to the tack. We've been struggling a lot with getaways, it's a shame."
Ferrari had a decent chance of catching up to the Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship, but Leclerc's mechanical issue put him out of the race, and consequently, he didn't score a single point on Sunday.
"With Charles in the race would have been a great opportunity to take away points on a Mercedes this weekend."
In the end, Sainz admitted the pace just wasn't there this weekend for the Ferrari to compete for the podium. The team will have two more chances to bounce back in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi.
"But also the car pace wasn't great either. So Aston Martin, McLaren and Red Bull were a bit in front and we couldn't fight them really much. It's a missed opportunity."
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