Carlos Sainz seems to be the only driver able to challenge Red Bull in 2024, and he seems to be very motivated for the fight ahead.
The Spanish driver is the only driver on the F1 grid to beat Max Verstappen in the last 22 races. Sainz did it two times, most recently at the Australian Grand Prix, which he won after the Dutchman's retirement.
At the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, Ferrari wasn't as close to Red Bull as they would have probably liked, and even though the 29-year-old admitted during the post-race press conference that he knew winning would be almost impossible, he's looking ahead.
The three-time Grand Prix winner is aware of the fact that early in the season, the Austrian team will have a clear advantage over Ferrari, but he's already looking forward to the updates that the team plans to bring later in the season.
"I think they are definitely going to have an advantage in the first third of the season until we bring one or two upgrades that makes us fight them more consistently, but by that time maybe it's a bit too late with the advantage that they might have on the championship."
Sainz believes that those upgrades may turn the season around, firing a clear warning to Red Bull, but he's also aware that it may be too late to turn things around when they arrive.
In the meantime, he knows that they need every help from Red Bull, like in Australia when Verstappen was forced to retire his car.
"In the meantime, we need more Australias! Which I don't see Red Bull, as a team, making these mistakes very often, no. A shame, because also I missed a race, which for both the team and me, it could be costly in the championship."
"We're competing in one race less, but at the same time, We're going to give it our best shot. It's my last year in Ferrari also, so yeah, nothing to lose and we will try everything to make it back."
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