Sainz: “My main intention is for the car to be more drivable” to improve on peaky SF-23 F1 car

Spread the love

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is eager for the new SF-24 to be easier to drive during the 2024 season. 

The new car was launched on Tuesday and sported its traditional striking red livery.

The Italian team were blisteringly fast at times last season, taking victory in Singapore and pole position with Sainz at Monza.

The Spaniard said: “My main intention is simply for the car to be more drivable. I think to have a wider window of performance, of drivability. 

“Last year, it is true that we struggle in certain conditions, in specific circuits. We were not as strong as we should have been, while the car in others was very strong. We also struggled a bit with predictability at the beginning of the year.”

Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari

This left the Scuderia unable to challenge Red Bull and Max Verstappen on most tracks.

Ferrari struggled with a peaky car in 2023, with the incredible highs balanced with the lows of Monaco, as neither Sainz nor teammate Charles Leclerc finished in the top five.

Red Bull set the benchmark last season, taking victory in all but one of the Grands Prix; Sainz urged his team to develop in every aspect to challenge the championship.

We are trying to improve all the areas. If we really want to challenge for the world title this year, we need to improve in every area of the car. 

“And that’s exactly what we’ve been trying to do all the winter and the past season, to try and improve every single area. Don’t leave anything without touching it or without trying to improve it. And with that approach and with this mindset, this car wants to improve in every single area.”

The 20-car grid has become more competitive in 2023, with just eight-tenths of a second separating the entire field in the first part of the qualifying in Brazil.

The 29-year-old is anticipating the grid to become even more competitive this season as the regulations enter their third year with minimal changes.

“In the end, when you look at the 2023 season, as the races were going by, the competition was getting tighter and tighter across the whole field. 

“I remember a lot of Q1s, Q2s and Q3s, that there was barely anything between many teams. So, moving forward to a year, I think everyone’s going to converge even more, and the competition is going to be even tighter. 

“So that’s why every single detail, every single small advantage that you can get and improve, it’s going to be key because the field is going to be extremely tight.”