Carlos Sainz is cautiously optimistic about Ferrari’s chances at the upcoming F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, despite acknowledging the potential challenge from McLaren.
Following a successful start to his final season with Ferrari, finishing third at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sainz and his team are considered the second-fastest squad as they head into the Jeddah race.
However, given the unique characteristics of the Jeddah circuit, Sainz believes the competitive hierarchy behind Ferrari might see some shifts.
Sainz, reflecting on McLaren’s previous performances, highlighted their success at high-speed tracks last year, including Silverstone, Japan, and Qatar, and anticipates they could pose a significant threat in Saudi Arabia.
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“Let’s see the differences first,” he remarked about the upcoming race, expressing both curiosity and cautious optimism with the new 2024 Ferrari vehicle.
“I expect the cars like the McLaren, last year they were very good in high-speed circuits, to be competitive there but you know our car has also improved in the high speed so hopefully we can be also stronger.”
McLaren, on the other hand, is entering the race with its own set of expectations and improvements.
Lando Norris, assessing the team’s prospects, emphasized the Jeddah circuit’s compatibility with McLaren’s strengths, particularly in high and medium-speed sections.
Despite this optimism, Norris acknowledged ongoing challenges.
“It’s a bit more high speed, a bit more medium speed, which normally suits us,” he noted, tempering his enthusiasm with realism about the differences in this year’s car compared to its predecessor.
“Plenty of things for us to learn, because it’s so different this car than what we had last year.
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“More challenges, more question marks but on the whole, I’m hoping it suits a little bit more.”
This weekend’s race promises an intriguing dynamic between Ferrari and McLaren, with both teams eager to understand their standing with the new cars in a uniquely challenging circuit.
As the teams navigate these uncertainties, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is set to be a crucial early-season indicator of potential championship contenders.