To be successful in F1, it’s not enough to be the fastest driver. Pure speed can help you shine on any given day. But don’t go any further. A good pilot has to be fast, but he needs more than just his hands. There are multiple other aspects that need to be controlled. Pilots can improve and learn in multiple areas through repetition and added experience. But some of those important things are no longer learned. This is the case for a factor as fundamental as each pilot’s sensibilities in finding settings. suitable for car, How to read the race correctly And that intelligence and clarity To identify what to do at each moment of the race.

Anyone who knows Carlos Sainz knows that he transforms on the track. It would be the closest thing to a robot programmed to always think about the 1-in-10 it can win here and there, and spend big bucks to improve this or that. Work, work, and more work Engineers appreciate the long hours at the factory (which is why they came to live near Maranello). Now, all of this greatly affects the final result.

An important but cruel process

The Spaniard has had a lot of trouble adapting to the new car regulations in 2022. I had to think about everything I did. It didn’t come naturally to him, but in a one-in-a-thousand sport, you pay the price. Criticism fell on him for not taking advantage of his winning car, as Leclerc did earlier in the season, until Red Bull woke up. However, Carlos did not give up. He put his head down and assimilated everything that was foreign to him but needed to go fast in that car, absorbing it until it became second nature.

The fruits of that difficult and long process are now being reaped. With a similarly styled car, he took a much-needed step forward. In Italy, he needed to be a “killer” and after he finished his lap in Q3 it was said that he didn’t have the last 10 seconds left. No more. He has taken the last two pole positions in uncontested fashion. He did it because he now trusts his car. “Now I feel like the car and I have become one,” he said ahead of Singapore. Here’s one of the most important keys.

ferrari lighthouse

It is important to understand the previous process to understand what is happening now Carlos Sainz Yes, he can make a difference with his mastery of setting.

his father, Carlos Sainz Senior, if he got mad at him in the cart, it would have been if my son got off the cart without knowing what configuration changes had been applied. I had to understand everything and master the setup perfectly. And now, his detailed instructions to engineers are making more of a difference than ever before. Now that I’m more familiar with the car and understand it better, I can get more refined and specific feedback when I get out of the car in practice 1. To quickly reach the perfect balance. So you’re ready for qualifying and can confidently take pole position if you have the car. A beacon for Ferrari. For example, at Monza Leclerc had to copy the settings. And in Zandvoort, Carlos was fifth in a complex car while Charles was lost.

performance under pressure

By making the inside of the car more comfortable, Demonstrate the ability to withstand pressure and deliver 100% performance. When the handle burns the most. At Monza, his heart was racing to secure pole position against the Tifosi. It didn’t get off to a great start either, as the first start was canceled minutes beforehand. And in Singapore, he got off to a perfect start from pole position.. In Zandvoort, The last lap of the event ran out of wheels; A seven-time champion like Hamilton could not overtake him..in Monza, Verstappen and Perez sweated to overcome him better car and Made Leclerc strong You’ll need fewer tires. And in Singapore, he withstood pressure from Russell throughout the race.and not only that, he once again showed his huge intelligence, this is the last and most important point to emphasize.

Reading intelligence and race: It’s nothing new

What Sainz exhibited in Singapore cannot be learned. It’s about being “naughty” and knowing how to read the race. yesAnd you either have it or you don’t. And it’s not new.

In 2021, he upset McLaren in Austin When he had to switch positions with Norris, he did so between turns 10 and 11, short of the DRS detection line, and used DRS to immediately regain his previous position in front of Lando. He used the same tactic in his great fight with Perez in Austria earlier this year. and In 2022, he revised the team’s strategy in Monaco. An emotional victory And at Silverstone, he repeated his famous “stop inventing” and ended up with his first win. In those two races, Charles could have done the same, but he didn’t. And that made a difference. Charles doesn’t have the intelligence to help Sainz take advantage of the situation.

Singapore is a prime example. He started from pole position in a car with high degradation and reduced race pace. The narrowness of the track and wall was advantageous. He did not get nervous and deliberately slowed the pace of the race to compact the group and prevent Mercedes from stopping early to get stuck in traffic and attack him.. So, He operated the steering wheel thinking about the end.. and, Decisive lap, the tires were already worn and Mercedes was flying on new rubber, so he told the team to give Norris the reference This was the second one, and it didn’t even have wheels. At Ferrari he didn’t know what he wanted to do.

“It was his idea,” boss Frédéric Vasseur said.. Instead of shooting, he played with his feet slightly raised so that Norris could move closer to him and benefit from DRS in the straight. Therefore, Norris was able to protect himself from Mercedes. If they didn’t pass Rand, their victory was certain. That’s why. intellect and hands. master combination.