Photo Credit: Scuderia Ferrari
Carlos Sainz says Ferrari’s upgrades for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix are “smaller than what people think” after a difficult qualifying session.
The Spaniard hasn’t been able to match his teammate Charles Leclerc’s pace so far this weekend and set a time nearly two and a half tenths slower in Q3.
But Leclerc, after being fastest in both sessions on Friday, will only line up one position ahead of Sainz in third. Behind the Lando Norris and pole sitter Max Verstappen, who he was 0.224s off when it mattered.
They were originally fourth and fifth, until Piastri, who put his McLaren second, received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in Q1.
From the outside, it’s a disappointing result considering the eight changes Ferrari have made to their car. As well as the pace that was on show yesterday.
Sainz however, says that the team never expected the upgrades to bring that big of a performance gain. They were aware that the circuits characteristics would favour McLaren and Red Bull more than Ferrari.
“I don’t think the team had high hopes [for the upgrades]. I think the media overhyped the upgrade package that we were bringing,” Sainz said.
“In terms of when you look at it, it looks like a new car, but when you view the [performance] numbers. the numbers were not a huge package.
“There are very small details everywhere. We were expecting them to help – and I think they did – but when I looked at this track. I saw it as a McLaren and a Red Bull track.”
He revealed that, the upgrades are not game changing and “smaller than what people think.”
He said, “I tried to say that to the media actively all week, and people didn’t seem to buy it and expected us to kill everyone today.
“I was always convinced the upgrade is smaller. I cannot tell you the numbers, but if I would tell you, you would be surprised.”
Hope for a podium
Despite lacking pace compared to their main rivals both Ferrari drivers are eyeing a potential podium finish in the race.
Leclerc’s long run in FP2 was competitive amongst the leading pack. He was setting an average similar that of Lando Norris and sixth tenths faster than Max Verstappen on the medium tyre. Albeit with the caveat that the Red Bull driver was struggling, and has since found more pace.
Leclerc says that a podium is “definitely the target”. Sainz is optimistic that their pace will be stronger tomorrow than it was today.
“We tend to race a bit better than we qualify this year,” he said. “So, our hopes are that we can get the car onto the podium tomorrow.”
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