After signing two fifth places in two seasons, the Spanish driver begins his third year at the Italian team, which has not won a Formula 1 championship since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007
Ferrari chose Valentine’s Day to take the SF-23 out of the garage, the tool with which the Spanish Carlos Sainz will have the opportunity to become F1 champion. “It’s unique to be here. It’s incredible to have this setting in Maranello with all the history it has, Ferrari is the only team with this environment,” said the Spanish driver, who will have his teammate again charles leclercwith whom he confirmed having a great relationship off the track.
The number 55 on the grid will not have it easy to dethrone Red Bull, since Ferrari has not won a drivers’ championship since 2007, with Kimi raikkonenand from teams since 2008. And that despite being a member of the most successful team, and the only one that has participated in all the championships.
In his two years at Ferrari, Sainz has been fifth both times. In his favor that last year they won their first race, stood on the podium three times and took nine pole positions. Despite its speed at one lap, since Ferrari was the one that achieved the most pole positions last year, the objective of the engineers was to make the SF-23 reliable, that is, that it would not break or melt the tires.
“We have had two difficult yearsbut we are second in drivers and manufacturers, and the goal is to win, that’s what motivates us,” Leclerc said at the presentation.
The last race of the season took place on November 20. “It’s been a long winter break. I’ve been on vacation in December but in January my body asked me for action and we’re ready for everything to come,” Sainz said at the presentation.
The Spaniard also had some gio with the Italians with whom he now works: “Spanish and Italians we are very close, I live perfectly here, but I avoid the antipasti if I do not want to take extra kilosIt’s the only thing I avoid, I only eat a plate but then they bring me more and I have a terrible time.
With violins and the tifosi covering the drivers while they sang the Fratelli d’Italia, the team did not limit themselves to taking out a model or making the drivers pose next to the car, but they put it before the cameras to drive around the circuit of Fiorano.
Regarding the car, Sainz stated: “It is very beautiful, more than last year’s. And I already thought it was impossible to be more beautiful. Now we are going to start with the little things: the brakes, the lengths… First impressions” .
During this period of drought, he has had Italian team leaders, which is why he is now going to try it with a Frenchman Fred Vasseur, Who has been answering the same question for weeks, who is their first and second pilot, or does it matter who wins the first: “Sainz and Leclerc will have the same (…) I don’t care who wins the first race, we are going to give them both the same material and the important thing is that one of them reaches the finish line first”.
“At the moment, since I have arrived everything is intense, you can feel the pressure,” said Vasseur, who joined Ferrari in early January after the resignation of his predecessor, the Italian. Mattia Binotto.
“My contribution in this car is very small because I just arrived, but there is a great feeling. That feeling is important for motivation ahead of the season (…) It is no secret that last year the reliability of the engine did not it was the best, we have worked well this winter to improve this aspect”, Vasseur concluded.
The pilots also had to respond in the presentation about that rivalry. “Normally we are very close (in times), but I will always try to be the fastest. Whenever we are on the track we compete, is the good thing about having a good relationship off and on the trackalways with respect,” said Sainz. “We will make each other better until the end, that’s for sure,” replied Leclerc.
The Monegasque driver, who finished second in the drivers’ championship last year, only behind the Dutchman max verstappen (RedBull), made it clear what his goal was, his expectations and aspirations.
“I can’t wait to start the World Cup. 2022 was a step up compared to 2021 and 2020, so I’m looking forward to starting this year. The goal is to win. The feeling of winning is what motivates me. I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and hopefully I can win,” Leclerc said.
The man from Monte Carlo was in charge of doing the first two laps of the circuit at the presentation, where the first thing that caught the attention of the car is that it is darker, and maintains its traditional aesthetic.
“I felt good, everything went perfect,” he said as soon as he got out of the car. “With two laps it is complicated but I have already given the ‘feedback’ to the mechanics”, he pointed out.
The tests start next week in Bahrin and the first race of the season will also be at the Sakhir circuit, just a week later.
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