Formula 1 Dutch GP
Ferrari risks missing Q3 as high-downforce struggles continue - Sainz
Carlos Sainz has warned that Ferrari may struggle to reach Q3 for the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix as the Formula 1 team again battles to adapt to high-downforce circuits.
Matt Kew
Edited: Aug 26, 2023, 9:21 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After Ferrari reserve Robert Shwartzman ran in the car during FP1 and classified 19th, Sainz clocked 16th in FP2. Team-mate Charles Leclerc finished 16th and then 11th.
Both Scuderia drivers have called on the team to make major gains overnight, with Sainz supposing that Ferrari has again been caught out by a high-downforce track.
He suggested Ferrari's larger rear wing specification could not match the loads generated by rivals. This reminded him of the Hungary GP when he qualified 11th.
He told F1TV: "Unfortunately, we don't look very competitive yet. We're going to need to find some lap time, some downforce, some balance because today was a tough day for the team.
"I think we saw something similar in Hungary where we go to higher downforce tracks, for some reason we don't pick up as much downforce maybe as the others when we go to the bigger rear wings.
"A bit of homework to do on our side [to understand] why we slide more than the others.
"If we want to be fighting for a podium [in qualifying] and on Sunday, it needs a very big jump in performance."
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Sainz warned that he could again miss out on Q3. He said: "There's a margin for improvement but when you look back at Hungary, we were fighting to get into Q3.
"It could be something similar this weekend, especially with how tight the field is."
Leclerc added: "We've had quite a few difficulties. FP2 went in the right direction but we still need to do a step forward for tomorrow.
"The feeling wasn't great, there's a big margin to improve but now we to do the step forward and find what was wrong for tomorrow."
Asked how major the changes needed to be to revive Ferrari's pace, Leclerc said: "I think it's fine-tuning because already from FP1 to FP2, we did some small changes and it went in the right direction.
"So, we need to do the same for tomorrow. Now it's all about trying to put the car in the right window, which we don't have yet.
"But I have a very clear idea of what I want from the car. Then we need to find the right set-ups to go around our issues. I'm confident. Normally we are quite good at that.
"We just need to do a step forward… We are not maximising our package at the moment."
Read Also:
- Who is Liam Lawson? Ricciardo F1 Dutch GP replacement
- Ricciardo out of F1 Dutch GP with injured hand, Lawson to sub
- F1 Dutch GP: Norris pips Verstappen by 0.023s in FP2
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Who is Liam Lawson? Ricciardo F1 Dutch GP replacement
Next article F1 results: Lando Norris fastest in Dutch GP practice
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Kew
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Latest news
Lamborghini World Finals | AM-LC Race 1: An unstoppable Lewandowski dominates to win Race 1
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
58 min
Lamborghini World Finals | AM-LC Race 1: An unstoppable Lewandowski dominates to win Race 1
Why Cadillac F1 boss provoked fresh intrigue by dodging driver question
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Why Cadillac F1 boss provoked fresh intrigue by dodging driver question
Lamborghini World Finals | PRO-PRO/AM Qualifying: Pole position for Lind, Bamber, Van der Drift and Marcelli
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
2 h
Lamborghini World Finals | PRO-PRO/AM Qualifying: Pole position for Lind, Bamber, Van der Drift and Marcelli
Jorge Martin's endless ordeal since signing for Aprilia
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Jorge Martin's endless ordeal since signing for Aprilia
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe