Sainz secured the final spot on the podium in Bahrain, trailing considerably behind the dominant Max Verstappen, yet finishing a mere two seconds behind Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.
Compared to the same race a year ago, where Ferrari’s tire management woes and inconsistent performance were glaringly evident, Sainz’s 25-second gap to Verstappen was a significant improvement.
Throughout the previous season, the SF-23’s lackluster race pace, despite its strong qualifying performances, was a recurring issue, especially on more demanding tracks. Sainz expressed relief that its successor, the SF-24, allows for a more aggressive driving style.
“It’s a bit of a relief because the last race where I was attacking was Austria, and we’re talking about 13, 14 races ago,” Sainz noted. “And then the rest of the races last year you just had to manage, look in the mirrors, control your pace. And there were very little opportunities to go and overtake people.”
“I love going racing, and I love going overtaking, being aggressive, attacking. And with last year’s car, it was simply impossible to do that,” he added.
Sainz highlighted his desire for a car that allows for racing and aggressive maneuvers without worrying excessively about tire management, which the SF-24 now provides. His third-place finish in Bahrain was a testament to this newfound ability to race more assertively.
While Bahrain showcased Red Bull’s clear dominance, particularly on the Sakhir circuit, Sainz’s pace hinted at the potential for closer competition in certain races.
“The advantage of Red Bull in Bahrain is what you saw very, very clearly,” Sainz remarked. “I think it’s interesting how they can keep the C3 soft tire alive for a bit longer than the rest, how they tend to overheat a bit less. Maybe that’s what makes the car also not as competitive in qualifying and so good in the race in a track like Bahrain.”
“I hope that this year’s trait is not as exaggerated and we’ve made a good step forward in that sense,” he concluded, expressing optimism for a more competitive season ahead.
