Carlos Sainz has once again expressed his frustration with the Ferrari team, accusing them of prioritising his teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Despite qualifying just fractions of a second behind Leclerc in Q3, Sainz was more perturbed by the earlier sessions where he believed he deserved greater attention given his precarious position.
The Scuderia drivers will commence the race from fourth and fifth on the grid, courtesy of an exceptional performance from McLaren, with Lando Norris securing second place and rookie Oscar Piastri claiming third.
While Ferrari managed to outpace both Mercedes and Fernando Alonso, securing second place in the constructors’ standings, they are expected to contend for a podium finish on Sunday.
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Reflecting on the qualifying session, Sainz expressed his discontent, saying, “We had a difficult quali today. He (Leclerc) had the priority all weekend, even though I was the driver at risk.
“But in the end, everything turned out okay.”
Speaking to Fox Sports, Sainz acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead in the race, with shifting conditions and the formidable pace of their competitors.
“Tomorrow, we’ll have a very fun race. Mercedes showed impressive race pace yesterday, followed by Red Bull,” he said.
“After them, it’s McLaren and us. It will be interesting with the changing conditions,” Sainz remarked, looking ahead to the upcoming challenge.
Sainz, who claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory last season, faces an uphill battle to defend his title, given the dominance of Max Verstappen at the front.
Nevertheless, he remains focused on Ferrari’s primary objective of surpassing their rivals from Mercedes and McLaren, particularly if Verstappen establishes a significant lead.
To have any chance of a repeat victory, Sainz is counting on a chaotic race that could provide opportunities to disrupt the order.
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Aware of the challenges that lie ahead, he aims to consolidate Ferrari’s position while capitalising on any unforeseen circumstances during the event.
As anticipation builds for the race, the spotlight remains on Ferrari’s internal dynamics and their ability to deliver a competitive performance.
Sainz’s frustrations underscore the intensity within the team as both drivers strive to achieve their full potential and challenge for podium finishes in the highly competitive Formula 1 season.