Ferrari’s quest to match the formidable pace of Red Bull in Formula 1 faces a significant hurdle until the arrival of their first major upgrade, according to Carlos Sainz. Despite Ferrari showing promising signs with a one-two finish at the Australian Grand Prix, they remain unable to close the gap to three-time world champion Max Verstappen.
In the early rounds of the season, Red Bull showcased dominance, with Verstappen leading the charge until his unfortunate retirement due to braking issues in Melbourne. Despite Sergio Perez’s efforts, Red Bull couldn’t replicate their earlier form, settling for a fifth-place finish.
Sainz acknowledges Ferrari’s progress but cautions that they’ll find it challenging to keep pace with Red Bull until a substantial upgrade arrives.
“Our car performed admirably this weekend,” remarked the Spaniard. “However, maintaining such competitiveness across all tracks will be tough until we can introduce upgrades to close the gap observed in Bahrain and Jeddah.”
Sainz expressed confidence in Ferrari’s potential, highlighting their competitiveness in Australia. “From the outset, our car felt like a contender for victory. Even though Red Bull was quick and secured pole position, their qualifying time wasn’t beyond our reach,” he noted.
He also emphasized Ferrari’s strengths on certain tracks, hinting at the team’s improved race pace this season. Sainz remains optimistic about Ferrari’s ability to challenge Red Bull more frequently with continued development efforts.
A major upgrade is scheduled for the Imola round in May, with minor aerodynamic tweaks planned for Suzuka. However, Ferrari aims to expedite the process, possibly introducing upgrades as early as the Japanese Grand Prix.
While the outcome of the Australian GP might have been different had Verstappen not faced mechanical issues, Ferrari’s drivers found encouragement in their long-run performance during practice sessions.
Reflecting on the race, Sainz believed he could have posed a challenge to Verstappen, especially after a promising start. “I felt I could keep up with him on the first lap and possibly utilize DRS to my advantage,” he recalled. However, Verstappen’s troubles with braking dashed any hopes of a close battle for the lead.
Despite the missed opportunity for a thrilling duel, Sainz expressed satisfaction with the victory, acknowledging Verstappen’s previous successes.
