Karun Chandhok expressed regret for underestimating Carlos Sainz in the battle for pole position during the Australian Grand Prix qualifying sessions.
Despite expectations leaning towards Charles Leclerc as Max Verstappen’s main competitor, Sainz showcased remarkable skill, consistently outperforming his Ferrari teammate and securing second place on the grid, just behind Verstappen.
Ferrari had shown potential throughout the practice sessions, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the top qualifying spot.
However, Sainz, having returned from surgery after an appendicitis diagnosis, emerged as the surprise of the qualifying rounds.
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He surpassed Leclerc’s times in all three segments, landing a front-row start, while Leclerc, affected by Sergio Perez’s grid penalty, was elevated to fourth place from fifth.
Reflecting on the qualifying performance, Chandhok admitted his oversight of Sainz’s capabilities in a conversation in the Sky Sports F1 studio, saying, “I feel like I owe Carlos an apology because in commentary I was just focusing on Charles Leclerc and kind of ignoring him in the other car.”
Sainz’s return to racing was marked by his swift recovery from surgery, having missed the previous Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia.
His comeback was highlighted by his strong qualifying performance, which he admitted was somewhat unexpected due to his recent health issues.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks, a lot of days in bed waiting for this moment to see if I could be here today,” Sainz remarked, emphasizing his determination to compete despite not feeling at his physical best.
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“But very happy to be here, very happy to be challenging the Red Bulls this weekend.”
His resilience was apparent as he navigated the discomfort to deliver an impressive performance, securing a front-row start and demonstrating his competitiveness against the dominant Red Bulls.
Sainz’s commitment and ability to overcome physical challenges underscored his exceptional talent and determination, making his qualifying success a noteworthy achievement in the face of adversity.