The legendary Italian team unveiled its pair of drivers for the Formula 1 season
the Italian team Ferrari officially present its pair of drivers for the 2021 Formula 1 season made up of the Spanish Carlos Sainz and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc.
Sainz assured this Friday that he fulfilled one of his “best dreams” by signing for the Italian team, But he rejected comparisons with his father’s achievements Carlos Sainz, Double world rally champion, whom he considers a “pioneer” of motorsport “impossible to eclipse”.
“Fiorano put on his red suit for the first time, I drove a car Ferrari and I did it on a mythical circuit. I did all this in one day and I will never forget it. I was anxious at first, but then the excitement went away and I enjoyed the day and what was going on, ”he stated. Carlos Sainz at a closed press conference accompanied by Leclerc, And the director, Mattia Binotto.
Carlos Sainz, The fifth Spanish pilot in the history of Ferrari, He acknowledged that he had dreamed of becoming a “Ferrari driver” since childhood and, despite having managed to reach his enormous challenge, he still looks far from completing his professional growth.
“I will never be above my father’s shadow. He is a double world champion [de rally], Something I have not yet achieved, although it is my intention. In addition, he was a pioneer, a special driver, he scored a before and an after in the rally, “he said.
“It will be difficult to overcome, even if I am part of Ferrari and I got one of my best dreams. My father won two world titles, I think it’s impossible to beat, ”he added.
Sainz was released with Ferrari in a test at Fiorano on January 27 aboard the SF71H of 2018 and is optimistic about the work done since then, but stressed that it is impossible to really know what kind of level your team has compared to others contenders before the season starts.
“It’s impossible to know where we are. We know what our simulations say, where we are in terms of top speed, but it’s impossible to predict where we’ll be until we see what our rivals did,” he warned.
From all angles. Our training 2021 ✨#beFerrari 🔴 @Charles_Leclerc @ CarlosSainz55 pic.twitter.com/o3JUyGBunl
– Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 26, 2021
Sainz, 26 years old, forms next to Leclerc (23) the pair of pilots of Ferrari younger since 1968 and, despite both having a high level of competition, they have stressed that the former will be the good of the team.
“There is always a balance to be found. I want to be competitive, but at the same time, especially at this time, we have to work for the team, we both want the team to grow. We started on a good footing, we have good relationship, we spent a lot of time together in Maranello, ”he said.
“I have confidence in our relationship, I’ve never had problems with a partner and I don’t see why I should have problems with Charles,” he insisted.
Sainz, Who set a five-year deadline to become world champion, acknowledged that it will be difficult to reach the first Grand Prix of the year, on March 28 in Bahrain, at 100 percent.
“My intention is to be at my best for the first race, but it’s really difficult to get there. It’s about experience, sensations that you win race by race. It’s hard to say when I’ll reach my best level. If it’s from the first Grand Prix better, but that also depends on how you feel about the new car, ”he warned.
For its part, Leclerc he acknowledged this Friday that both he and his teammate are very competitive people, but vowed to separate “what goes on inside and outside the circuit” for the good of the team.
“Clearly we have to fight for the good of the team. Carlos wants to win me and I want to win him, but when we are in the races we will fight carefully, we will try to see what we can do for the team.” , he said. “The most important thing is to separate what happens inside and outside the circuit. Outside the car we have to collaborate, and in the car, too, with strategy. Carles is competitive, but he is here for the good of the team “.
Leclerc has been working alongside for almost two months now Carlos Sainz and to the engineers of Ferrari for next season and was satisfied with the improvements achieved, although before drawing conclusions, he said, we will have to wait for the first races.
“We seem to be taking good steps, we work a lot with Carlos from the beginning, we tighten a lot and we see improvements. Everything seems positive, but you have to see what others do to understand where we are. The team is giving everything,” .
On a personal level, Leclerc reported that in recent weeks it has focused on analyzing its performance from last year to try to improve.
“We did some tests with the car of the year 2018, I feel ready for the new year. I’m trying to learn, to see what my weaknesses were. I was watching the past races, to see what I can do better, “said the Monegasque.
finally Binotto celebrated the signing of the Spaniard this Friday Carlos Sainz as a team driver and has considered last season’s results to prove the choice is right.
“Before signing Sainz we saw his growth over the last few seasons, we saw how he grew and we were clear that he was a great rider, strong, with personality. We knew he would be a good partner for Leclerc“He referred.” At the end of 2020 many people congratulated us on the decision to sign Sainz. I am happy for our choice, last season proved that Sainz is correct for Ferrari“.
Binotto he was also very pleased with how Sainz he has been adapting to the team despite not having much time available.
“Three days of testing are few, in addition we alternate the two drivers. We know that for Carlos it is a challenge, but every kilometer he did is important to adapt. I must say that Carles has grown very well, s’ it has adapted very well, “he said. “His speed is good, we need time and we don’t expect him to be at 100 per cent at the start of the season, but I think he will be ready, close to the maximum. He is not an inexperienced driver, he is a professional and will manage the situation well “.
At the level of sports project, Binotto acknowledged that its engineers and mechanics are working with the main focus on the 2022 season, already nullifying the margin of difference with Mercedes, which dominated the last world championships, in a single year is prohibitive.
“The margin accumulated last year is high and you can not recover it in a winter. Our focus will be on the development of the car of 2022, is the main goal, we will not devote much time to that of 2021. In 2022 there will be many changes and most of our efforts will be in the car of 2022, ”he concluded.