Optimism combined with a dose of realism. That’s how the primary day of apply in Abu Dhabi for Ferrari may very well be summed up, listening to Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver’s emotions are higher than the stopwatch suggests.
The Spaniard wrapped up the final Friday of the season in fourth place, behind the “shock” Nico Hulkenberg, who typically delivers flashes of brilliance on a single lap. Nonetheless, the important thing focus for the Prancing Horse this weekend isn’t total efficiency however the comparability with McLaren, their rival within the Constructors’ Championship battle.
Ferrari goes all-in at Abu Dhabi, however sadly, the weekend didn’t begin on one of the best word, with Charles Leclerc’s automotive requiring a battery change, leading to a ten-place grid penalty. On the opposite aspect of the storage, Carlos Sainz needed to sit out the primary apply session to make approach for Arthur Leclerc, complying with the rule requiring groups to permit a rookie to drive in two FP1 periods per season.
Carlos Sainz, nevertheless, believes this didn’t weigh closely on him, as he felt he shortly discovered his rhythm with the automotive: “Sure, I solely had one session, however I’m pleased with how shortly I obtained up to the mark. By the second lap, I already had one of the best time. That’s excellent news as a result of it means I belief the automotive and know methods to drive it,” the Spaniard mentioned on the finish of the day. Moreover, whereas FP1 is often useful for an preliminary have a look at the setup, the numerous temperature distinction between afternoon and night periods at Yas Marina means the info gathered is much less related in comparison with different tracks.
Nonetheless, as Carlos Sainz identified, when the SF-24 switched to comfortable tires on a cooler observe within the night, the acquainted points which have plagued Ferrari all through the season started to floor. These points forestall the automotive from excelling on a single lap. Leclerc wasn’t even in a position to set a aggressive lap because of site visitors interfering with tire preparation, leaving Carlos Sainz’s time as the one significant reference.
“Then, with the comfortable tires, we had some issues. I feel we’re nonetheless not in a position to extract all of the efficiency. As at all times, when the observe cools and we mount the comfortable tires, our automotive appears to battle a bit extra,” the Spaniard added. He emphasised, nevertheless, that if Ferrari can discover some enhancements, the hole to McLaren may very well be lowered by about half from the present five-tenths.
“Most likely we’re not half a second behind McLaren, however at the least two or three tenths. That’s one thing we have to attempt to get well by tomorrow. It’s a deficit we additionally carried into the lengthy runs. We have to discover a number of tenths in a single day to be within the battle with them.”
Carlos Sainz isn’t shocked that McLaren is aggressive right here. Final 12 months, they fell brief within the decisive moments, missing Ferrari’s tempo, however this season, the automotive has made important strides, particularly in sluggish sections the place they struggled previously.
“I’m not shocked by the hole as a result of this has at all times been a observe the place McLaren performs properly, and Lando has typically been very aggressive right here. In the mean time, they appear to be the strongest this weekend, so beating them might be a troublesome activity.”
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