Carlos Sainz: “Winning with Ferrari is the most a driver can wish for”

Realizing a ‘dream’ after his second season with Ferrari, Carlos Sainz admitted that winning with the Italian team is ‘the biggest thing you can aspire to be as a driver’, adding: ‘A big step. stepped forward,” he declared. From last year until now” we have to think about the goal of fighting for the title in 2023.

Carlos Sainz (Madrid, 1994), despite his young age, is a veteran of the F1 circuit, celebrating his eighth season. His fantasy is that he can fight Dutchman Max Verstappen, who has dominated at Red Bull for the past two years, next season.

The driver from Madrid attended the EFE, an event organized by Estrella Galicia, to talk about his sporting moments and what he sees for the future with Ferrari.

After 3 races in 3 weeks in Belgium, Holland and Italy, how are you spending this active break?

The season is in full swing. A hard race like Singapore is coming. With a lot of travel and jet lag, we have to find a relationship between rest and rejuvenation to arrive as prepared as possible for the rest of the race.

His next stop is Singapore, a circuit he knows well. What do you expect from that race?

It will be very difficult physically as it has always been so with the humidity and heat. It’s the toughest race at the World Championships, so we’re going to take advantage of it this week to train in the heat and get acclimated. I think it’s a good circuit for the car and it will give us a good chance to get some great wins before the season is over.

There are 6 races left in the World Cup. How do you see the season finale?

We want to have a consistent end to the season, especially given the many things that have happened to us this year. I would like to spend the second half of the season quietly. This will allow us to have less happening and get into the rhythm and moments of the coming year of new opportunities.

What do you want from Ferrari projects next year?

the base. We have a solid foundation this year with a very good car and the team is making progress. We need to improve some things like reliability and consistency, but we have to keep in mind that this year we were up against a team like Red Bull who are doing perfectly. We have to learn and become people who do them like this next year.

Could we see Ferrari fight for the title in 2023?

I think so. We did a little better this year and with a little luck at the beginning of the season we would have been in contention for the title. Why don’t you think that next year you have a new opportunity and you can achieve it? Ferrari have to set that target after taking a big step forward from last year to this year.

Last year he scored four podiums. A win and six other podiums this year. How would you rate the season, are you happy with it?

Honestly, not 100 percent. Like my first victory, there were a lot of good moments and moments that I will never forget, but there were also difficult moments, so it was a bit of a roller coaster. It has reliability issues and its consistency could lead to title contention. I need to improve there, and I would like to start practicing now.

After Monza much of the international press described Max Verstappen as unmanageable and unattainable. What do you think of those qualifications?

Not only Verstappen, but also Red Bull. Verstappen he’s had 10 years and Red Bull hasn’t failed anything. It’s not about strategy, it’s not about making important decisions. The penalty they put in the race is where they know they’ll get their strongest car. I’m here. Unruly, unruly No. In every race there is a chance and we will try.

You’re 28 and in your eighth season in Formula 1, have you ever stopped and thought about it?

When I think back to my eight years in F1, I realize how fast time flies. I think it was yesterday that we made our debut in Australia. I have very close memories. I remember all the races. It’s amazing to be 28 years old and have been there for 8 years. I don’t know if there are more than 150 races in F1, but that’s a lot for my age.

How do you manage your emotions while driving at these speeds?

It’s something I’ve been managing for 10 years. I value his F1 racing as much as his kart racing. you always want to do your best. That’s what I’ve been doing since I was little. Knowing how to manage a race happens in me and it’s muscle memory. You always make mistakes, you always have better days than others, but you always do something different I will put it away.

Are the managers trained?

It’s what I’ve been doing since I was 11 years old, and what you’ve been practicing, improving, and honing. That’s what makes us his F1 driver and his F1 driver the best in the world. You are competing with people who are on a similar level and manage things in a similar way.

Are you scared of pilots?

No, I never felt scared. The day I feel afraid to quit. That’s incompatible with the risks I take on qualifying laps, starts, or fast laps.

How does Ferrari manage media exposure?

That’s what I was warned about before. They told me to be prepared because the Italian press is very strict and they know how big Ferrari is in the world, but it wasn’t until I got inside that I realized it was getting attention. No. Especially this year the amount of criticism. I’ve read unfair criticism of the team, but that’s part of the beauty. We are proud to be part of such a large organization and an icon of the automotive world. i don’t think that is the problem.

Dreaming of driving a Ferrari?

Yes, I think it’s a pilot’s dream. To be part of this team and to win is the maximum that racing can hope for as a driver.

How do you see Fernando Alonso’s season in the Alpine?

He’s had a very good season and the project with Aston Martin looks good next year. Sooner or later he will be there with the urges he has.