Despite a strong start to his final campaign with Ferrari, Carlos Sainz admits uncertainty surrounding his performance in F1 thus far this season.
When asked if he is performing at his best in F1 this year, the Spaniard responded, “I don’t know.”
His journey with Ferrari is coming to an end this year, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton set to take his place at the Scuderia.
Despite the impending change, Sainz has kicked off the 2024 F1 season impressively, securing two podium finishes and a victory in the four races he has contested so far. Despite this success, he remains introspective, grappling with performance evaluation as he considers his options next season.
Photo Credit: Scuderia Ferrari
“It’s a difficult thing to answer. Obviously, it looks like it because the podiums are coming, and the results are showing.”
Sainz looks to the future
While speculation mounts about his future destination, whether it be Audi, Mercedes, or a return to Red Bull, Sainz is adamant about his consistent performance at previous teams.
“I’ve been at my best also in McLaren, I’ve been at my best in Toro Rosso.”, he said
For Sainz, the key variable is not his skill but the machinery he is given to work with.
“So what changes is the car – some years you have a better car than others,” he explains.
“Some years you have a better qualifying car, a better race car.”
As the season progresses, the Spanish driver remains focused on delivering strong performances. While acknowledging the importance of striking a balance between qualifying and race pace, he reflects, “This year, we have a good compromise between quali and race.”
“I’m driving at a very good level, I think, but I’ve been in F1 at a good level before. Honestly, I would need to go through all my last nine years – that are quite a few when I think about it.”