F1, Carlos Sainz on the attack: his broadside to critics

Lots of congratulations, but also bitterness over a last row on which he had no responsibility.

It is a two-faced Carlos Sainz commenting on French Grand Prix qualifying, which saw teammate Charles Leclerc take pole position at Le Castellet thanks in part to Ferrari’s teamwork. And indeed, the Monegasque immediately thanked him over the radio, with pole position just taken.

“Ours has been a good collaboration,” Sainz told ‘Sky Sport’ microphones. “This means that our work is good, and it also shuts up the criticism that has been seen in recent weeks. But in Ferrari we are united and successful, to see the results we can reap when we work like this is nice.”

The real source of bitterness for the Spaniard was seeing himself behind the wheel of such a competitive Ferrari, but knowing that he was once again forced to start from the back of the grid because of the new Power Unit replacement. “If there was one qualifying where there was a chance to make a pole position in the dry, it was this one,” Sainz admitted. “My time in Q2 proves it, in Q3 I had room to do even better. But that’s how sport goes, at least I was able to help Leclerc set the best time.”

The feeling of an ever-improving feeling with his Ferrari remains. “I have a complicated race ahead of me, because this scorching heat does not help the tires. The situation is not ideal, but I will try my best because the car is there. I have grown a lot and I feel at a top level of form.”