Breaking news
Formula 1
Renault progress shows Ferrari can recover performance - Sainz
Carlos Sainz believes Ferrari can bounce back from its current troubles in Formula 1, and cites Renault as an example of what can be achieved.
Adam Cooper
Published: Sep 3, 2020, 8:15 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ferrari endured one of its least competitive races in recent years at Spa last weekend. Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel qualified 13th and 14th, and in a race that saw no attrition at the front they finished in the same positions, but with Vettel ahead of Leclerc.
The lack of straightline performance that has been apparent all year was even more evident at Spa, with customer teams Alfa Romeo and Haas also suffering.
Sainz, who replaces Vettel in 2021, acknowledges that Ferrari has a lot of work to do – but he says that Renault’s successful efforts to improve its power unit in recent years show that it is possible to make progress.
“I think clearly Ferrari is the first one that is not happy right now,” he said. “And I think we could see clearly how much they struggled. But I think they struggled with a bit more than the engine, I think they also had some problems with the overall grip of the car.
“When you lose so much power from one year to the other, which is actually not the normal trend in F1, normally you are expecting to stay the same or gain, but when you lose so much power, you know that in Spa you're going to get in trouble.
“So I think it's an abnormality to see Ferrari so far back, but it's normal after what we saw in the first races how much they are losing on the straights.”
Read Also:
- Ferrari asks for "patience" as recovery could take years
- Binotto: Party mode ban could shake up order at Monza
- Ferrari struggles not just down to engine - Brawn
Regarding the prospects of future recovery, he said: “In general I would say that yes, they need a very big step on the engine coming.
“I know how tough it is, because it took Renault three years, and it's taken Honda quite a long time also. So the fact that Renault is nearly there, close to Mercedes, also shows that you can do it.
“And for me, if there's a team with facilities, if there's a team with resources, if there's a team with a lot of engine benches to try and improve, that's Ferrari.
“So I'm sure the factory now is working flat out, and hopefully by the time I get there, they've improved a bit. And then together we can do the next step.”
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 250 doctors and nurses to attend Italian GP as spectators
Next article F1 has a "mountain to climb" to exist in 10 years - Vettel
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
More from
Carlos Sainz
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
What the drivers are expecting from F1's return to Sepang
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
What the drivers are expecting from F1's return to Sepang
More from
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
MotoGP
MotoGP
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
WEC
WEC
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
Latest news
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
General
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
Yamaha boss on MotoGP changes under Liberty: 'We must be careful not to lose our fans'
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Japanese GP
1 h
Yamaha boss on MotoGP changes under Liberty: 'We must be careful not to lose our fans'
Kyle Busch remembered: Rowdy’s most notable Phoenix moments
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
Kyle Busch remembered: Rowdy’s most notable Phoenix moments
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