The Netherlands Grand Prix begins this Friday and Carlos Sainz faces it after turning 27 years old and with the intention of erasing the bad taste in the mouth of Spa-Francorchamps.
Carlos Sainz He lives an idyllic moment at Ferrari, especially from the point of view of his adaptation to the team. Proof of this was the congratulations that the Madrid driver received in Maranello last Wednesday, with a large part of the team members present.
“The team gave me a pleasant surprise, I didn’t expect it,” admits Carlos Sainz. «They asked me to show up in Maranello at 9 in the morning to change my street car and I tried to postpone this appointment, since immediately afterwards I had to leave, but in the end of course I said ‘OK’ ».
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«I arrived where they had indicated me and … I found myself in front of hundreds of people from the team, who were waiting for me to wish me a happy birthday. I loved it, it was a very pleasant surprise. Then I traveled to an event with Shell and then played golf with Lando (Norris), ”explains Sainz.
Zandvoort
On a more sporting level, Carlos Sainz has spoken of the Zandvoort circuit, which returns to the Formula 1 36 years later and after undergoing a major remodeling.
“My memories go back to 2010, the first time I raced here I was in Formula BMW, I remember it was raining a lot. Then I came to Zandvoort a couple of times for the F3 Master and enjoyed it, at the wheel of a Formula 3 car this track is incredible », says the Spanish.
“I remember that at the time it was one of my favorites, but I can’t imagine how I will feel behind the wheel of a Formula 1. I guess it will be special, especially with the changes they have made. I’m looking forward to getting out of the pits tomorrow for the first practice sessions, ”admits Sainz.
Undoubtedly, the main point of interest will be in the curve of entry to the finish line, a large cant that aims to encourage overtaking and in which, at least on Friday, DRS cannot be used for security.
If we see that he’s okay, then we could have him on Saturday. I don’t think the DRS actuation point is going to make overtaking much better because the curves that precede this straight are all curves that, for us, will be particularly difficult to follow the car in front, “says Carlos Sainz.
“For more overtaking, we would actually need a lot of degradation, for the tires to crumble, but it’s a pretty tough compound. The straight is not very long And I don’t expect the DRS to make a big difference, ”he laments.
Finally, Sainz has valued what will be important news in the coming days: the confirmation of the signing of George Russell by Mercedes.
“I think it’s the right thing to do, it’s a natural transition,” says Carlos Sainz. “Something that is very nice is that we all get along, although at some point I am sure that there will be some battles that will warm up the atmosphere. But we all like Formula 1, it is a natural transition that I am sure will be good for the future of sport ».