Despite being ‘banned’ from certain Ferrari meetings, Carlos Sainz remains positive about the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix. He believes the Ferrari car will perform better at the Red Bull Ring this weekend.

Ferrari have struggled in recent races, finishing fourth in Spain. Both Sainz and team-mate Charles Leclerc qualified on the third row in Barcelona, behind the two Mercedes cars as well as Lando Norris (McLaren) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull). Despite these struggles, the Ferrari team have decided to remove Sainz from team meetings to protect the future interests of the Italian team when the Spaniard eventually leaves later this year.

 

Sainz bullish on prospects

Ferrari’s race pace in Spain mirrored their qualifying performance, with neither driver able to overtake the Mercedes duo despite trying different tyre strategies. Sainz acknowledged that Ferrari were the fourth-fastest team at his home race, but attributed their struggles to the specific layout of the Barcelona circuit, which accentuates Ferrari’s weaknesses in long corners.

He expects the Red Bull Ring, with its different characteristics, to be more favourable to Ferrari.

“It wasn’t our best weekend, but it was also the track where we struggled the most last year,” said Sainz.

“So that’s our hope, that it’s just a [bad] track for us and that there are other tracks where we can be a bit more competitive. It’s the high-speed nature of the track and the long, combined [corners], we always seem to struggle when it’s long corners like China, here or Suzuka.

“I remember Austria not being a problem because of the track characteristics, so I think we will be more competitive because of the corner types.”

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Ferrari boss agrees with Sainz

Team boss Fred Vasseur echoed Sainz’s sentiments, suggesting that Barcelona’s performance does not set a definitive trend for the rest of the season. He pointed out that the order among the top four teams is fluid, with different teams taking pole positions in recent races.

“The order is changing because in the last four weekends you have four different teams on pole. We haven’t changed the car massively, so it’s more relative to the track layout, the compounds, the temperature window.

“Before we draw any conclusions, we have to stay calm, we have to take it one event at a time and [in Austria] it will be a completely different format, different tarmac, different type of corners and probably next week the picture will be completely different.

“Nothing is forever in F1 these days and that means it is not crystal clear that one team is better than the other.”

Vasseur also addressed the specific challenges of Barcelona, emphasising the importance of maintaining tyre performance throughout a lap.

“The most important thing in Barcelona is to maintain the potential of the tyres throughout the lap in the different corners,” he explained.

“We probably missed a little bit there because we were two tenths off. But with 14 corners in Barcelona, we are not losing a hundredth per corner. We lost a tenth per lap twice and the rest of the lap was a copy-paste from Lando.”

 

 

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Sainz banned from Ferrari meetings

Despite this united front between Sainz and Vassuer, things have not been so positive for the Spaniard when it comes to future planning and team meetings. In an interview, Sainz revealed that he has been excluded from discussions about Ferrari’s plans for next season.

This development underlines the strategic decisions teams have to make to protect their competitive edge. Sainz acknowledged this reality, stating, “It’s obvious that they won’t include me in the meetings about the car for next year. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be very clever because they know that I’ll be driving somewhere else.”

Sainz went on to explain his current role within the team, saying, “I’m not involved in the simulator sessions for next year’s car and I’m not involved in the sessions for next year’s car.”

This exclusion from future plans is a common practice in F1, especially when a driver’s departure is imminent. Teams need to protect their intellectual property and development secrets to maintain a competitive advantage. As a professional, Sainz understands and accepts this need.

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Understanding Ferrari’s position

Despite these restrictions, Sainz remains an integral part of Ferrari’s operations for the current season. He continues to take part in simulator sessions and meetings focused on this year’s car and race strategies.

“I attend every simulator session with this year’s car and this year’s circuits, and every meeting that deals with this year’s car and possible benefits or developments that could come for the car,” he said.

Sainz holds no grudge against Ferrari for their decision. On the contrary, he supports it.

“I’m happy about it because I think it’s the way it should be,” he said, demonstrating his professionalism and understanding of the team’s need to secure its future plans.

 

 

 

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Uncertain future for Sainz

While Sainz’s departure from Ferrari has been confirmed, his future in Formula One remains uncertain. He is seen as a key figure in the paddock, a “domino” whose next move is likely to influence the decisions of other teams. Sainz currently has offers from several prominent teams, including Sauber/Audi, Williams and Alpine.

Sainz’s Formula One career began in 2015 when he joined Toro Rosso, now known as Racing Bulls. His journey has taken him to Renault (now Alpine) and McLaren before joining Ferrari in 2021. During his tenure, he has won three Grand Prix.

The landscape of Formula One is constantly changing and the movement of a key driver such as Sainz can trigger a series of strategic decisions across the paddock. His next move will be eagerly anticipated and closely watched by fans and analysts alike.

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Sainz’s legacy and future prospects

Looking ahead, Sainz’s options are varied and potentially promising. Sauber/Audi is an opportunity to be part of the resurgence of a historic brand in Formula One. Williams, with its storied past, offers the chance to contribute to a team that is rebuilding and seeking to recapture its former glory, but also it is thought that he may be able to take a short term contract, opening up the possibility to head back out to a top team.

At Alpine, where Sainz previously raced under the Renault banner, might be a comfortable return to familiar territory with new opportunities.

Each potential team brings its own set of challenges and opportunities. For Sainz, the choice will likely come down to where he feels he can make the most impact and continue his quest for F1 success. Certainly he will likely be taking a demotion away from race victories leaving Ferrari until an opportunity comes within Red Bull, McLaren or Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz’s expectation of a more competitive Ferrari in Austria reflects his continued optimism and commitment to his current team. As he navigates this period of transition, his focus remains on performing at his best for Ferrari until the very end.

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MORE F1 NEWS: Verstappen denied to drive in Austria by Horner

This weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring was to be a special event, with the fans treated to appearances by former Formula One legends. Among the highlights, Jos Verstappen was due to take a few laps in Red Bull Racing’s 2012 Formula One car, the RB8.

However, the highly anticipated appearance has been cancelled. Verstappen senior has decided to withdraw, citing a disappointing turn of events behind the scenes at…READ MORE ON THIS STORY