Formula 1
Sainz still building confidence with Ferrari’s start system
Carlos Sainz says he is still working to build his confidence with the start system on Ferrari's Formula 1 car after struggling off the line in Spain.
Luke Smith Jonathan Noble
Edited: May 19, 2021, 7:39 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sainz has typically been a good starter throughout his F1 career to date, but lost positions to Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez on the opening lap in Barcelona, slipping from sixth to eighth.
Sainz was unable to re-pass the drivers and became stuck in the midfield fight while Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc pulled clear after starting fourth, ultimately finishing 20 seconds up the road at the chequered flag.
Sainz lost positions off the line on debut in Bahrain before making gains at both Imola and Portimao, giving him an average of zero places made up on the first lap of races so far this year.
The Spaniard explained that he was aware of his struggles at the start and was already discussing them with Ferrari in a bid to gain confidence, and build a better understanding following his winter switch from McLaren.
"I was just going through a bit of analysis with my engineers 10 minutes ago, trying to understand what I could have done better," Sainz said following the grand race in Spain.
"What is clear is that I still need to get a bit better and a bit more confident with the start system, and the way we operate to get that perfect launch and the perfect first 100 metres.
Read Also:
- The pay TV vs free-to-air conflict at the heart of modern F1
- Ricciardo: Monaco GP will feel "a little empty" this year
- Perez "delighted" with Helmut Marko's honesty
"Although today, I don't think that was the main limitation, the main limitation of it was the positioning, getting in and out of the slipstream and then being boxed in behind [Esteban] Ocon going into Turn 1 and losing quite a bit of positions to the cars around the outside.
"It's a combination of factor to get that perfect result like Charles did. You need to first of all put the weekend completely together, and it comes to a good qualifying to make a good lap in Q3 to start further ahead. Then it wouldn't have been an issue and then making the start.
"This is what I was particularly good at McLaren, putting the whole weekend together, and this is what I need to keep improving as the races go on with this team, to keep performing at the highest possible level."
Sainz sits eighth in the F1 drivers' championship after four races this year with half of Leclerc's points total, recording a best finish of fifth in Portugal.
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 Perez "delighted" with Helmut Marko's honesty
Next article Ricciardo: Monaco GP will feel "a little empty" this year
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
More from
Carlos Sainz
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
Formula 1
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
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
More from
Ferrari
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
4 h
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
3 min
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
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