In Japan, adverse weather conditions impacted the Formula 1 teams’ preparation, leaving them with only one practice session to gather data. Despite the setback, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz remains optimistic about his team’s performance potential.
Reflecting on Ferrari’s progress, Sainz remarked that the team is closer to Red Bull than he initially thought after the first day of practice in Japan. The limited track time during the second practice session due to rainfall meant that FP1 held greater significance on Friday at Suzuka Circuit.
After FP1, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez topped the timesheets, with Sainz closely behind in third place, just two-tenths adrift of Verstappen. Sainz found encouragement in this gap but acknowledged that Red Bull Racing remains the benchmark team to beat.
“FP1 was a bit closer to the Red Bulls than I anticipated or expected, so positive signs from five months ago [in Japan] to now,” Sainz expressed, highlighting the progress Ferrari has made in bridging the gap to the leading team.
“Still obviously, it’s FP1 and you don’t know what fuel loads and engine modes they’re running. Last year we were eight-tenths off in qualifying and here, to be two-tenths off in FP1 is a good feeling and a good starting base. But they are going to be difficult to beat this weekend.”
Arriving at Suzuka for the weekend, Sainz brings with him the momentum of a recent victory in Melbourne, where he triumphed over his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Reflecting on Ferrari’s impressive start to the season, Sainz attributed their success to their ability to grasp the challenges presented during pre-season testing.
“It looks tight again with the McLarens and Mercedes. Red Bull is a step ahead but maybe a smaller step ahead than I thought,” Sainz commented, acknowledging the competitive landscape of the championship and Red Bull’s current advantage.
“It should be an interesting fight out there. I was confident in Bahrain, confident in Jeddah, and confident in Australia. I hit the ground running here. So after a good winter test, we understood the car well and found a good set-up that more or less seems to work everywhere. The car is just better this year, which helps.”
