Sainz thought Ferrari was in the pole fight but high speed bouncing was a hindrance
Carlos Sainz says that that the Ferrari SF-24 is not comfortable on Barcelona’s fast corners as the bouncing phenomenon that has been associated with the current ground effect regulations returned.
The Spaniard admitted that he thought that Ferrari could challenge for pole position only to find the Italian team outpaced by three rival teams in qualifying.
Sainz had to settle for sixth on the grid behind team mate Charles Leclerc as Lando Norris and Max Verstappen secured the front row, and Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took third and fourth.
“Unfortunately, around Q2 we kind of realised that Red Bull when they turn it up and McLaren when they turn it up, they had an edge over us,” said Sainz when asked by this writer about the session.
“Disappointed, because honestly, after free practice, I thought we had a chance to fight for pole position this weekend. But very quickly in Q2 we realised we were just a step too far.
“We could sit here and argue three-hundredths more we would be P3, but the reality is that I’m looking more at the gap to Lando than the gap to the Mercedes. Because three tenths and a half is a lot of lap time around Barcelona.”
Sainz admitted that the margin to the two front row qualifiers was the biggest concern for him.
“Honestly, the Red Bull and the McLaren seemed a bit out of reach,” he said. “The Mercedes are within a tenth of us, and the two Mercedes drivers ahead of the two Ferrari drivers. So it’s extremely tight.
“Extremely good fun, because it is good fun out there. But at the same time, I expected a fight for pole or at least to be within a tenth, tenth and a half of the Red Bull or the McLaren, and we were three and a half, which is, quite a big gap.
“When we look at Suzuka, China, medium/high speed tracks, long corners, reminds me of Barcelona. And there we were also quite a big step far.”
Expanding on the weakness in the faster turns he said: “We’ve been struggling all weekend with the high-speed corners. We still have this bouncing phenomenon that gives us a very tough time in the high-speed corners.
“Probably this is also killing a bit the tyre for the third sector. Still, the third year of these regulations, I’m fighting this for porpoising in high-speed corners when you put lateral load in the car.
“And it’s been tough all weekend to try and get rid of it, and still we haven’t managed to get rid of it.”
Despite the bouncing issue Sainz was upbeat about the upgrades that Ferrari has introduced this weekend.
“They seem to be working fine,” he said. “Three-and-a-half tenths, with all the upgrades that everyone’s bringing, you go back to Suzuka and Japan we were three-and-a-half tenths, half-a-second, maybe a bit more.
“So it’s just I think very track dependent right now for everyone. The only clear ones that they’ve joined the fight is Mercedes, and that Miami upgrade from McLaren has put them from a step back from us to a step forward.
“So yeah, we just keep digging and keep trying to bring things. We’re probably going to need to find something to unlock some more performance in this kind of medium/high-speed tracks where the bouncing and the ride is still important.”
Sainz is optimistic about the team’s prospects for Sunday’s race.
“I think it might be a two-stop race,” he said. “Strategy-wise, we can still do things. Just the starting position in Barcelona is fundamental, and obviously, we’re starting a bit too far back. I’m hoping that we can still do a good race.
“Especially we if get a good start, we get in the mix, and then you’re playing with undercuts, overcuts. And it could be a good race.”
Adam Cooper F1 