Carlos Sainz Jnr says Ferrari weren’t as robust as McLaren over the Chinese language Grand Prix weekend after the workforce completed fourth and fifth.
Sainz completed ten seconds behind workforce mate Charles Leclerc in fifth and 20 seconds behind Lando Norris who cut up the 2 Purple Bulls on the rostrum in second place.
It was the primary time a McLaren has completed forward of each Ferraris in a grand prix in 2024 and Sainz believes it was a good reflection of the relative efficiency of the 2 groups in Shanghai.
“I believe this weekend they’ve been stronger – easy as that,” Sainz mentioned.
“I believe McLaren, at this type of circuit, they’ve proven higher tempo than us. And even on high of that, we certified behind [them] and if we get in bother within the first lap, then there’s no likelihood we’re going to beat them. So, we have to do higher subsequent time.”
Like Norris, each Sainz and workforce mate Leclerc began on the medium compound and made a single cease for exhausting tyres – Norris doing so below Digital Security Automotive circumstances. Leclerc admitted that the workforce’s tempo on the exhausting tyres was not what they anticipated it to be.
“I believe as a workforce we’re fairly assured that our race tempo was very robust,” he mentioned. “Nevertheless, we didn’t drive on the exhausting tyres till [the grand prix]. And as soon as we placed on the hards, we had been a lot slower than what we anticipated. In order that was an enormous shock.
“Particularly McLaren had been very, very robust on the hards. Nevertheless, having mentioned that, I believe now we have additionally been placed on the again foot with the Security Automotive, as a result of that put us on the identical technique as all people. Till that second, I used to be doing a very, actually good job with the tyres and I used to be very assured that we may do an awesome race. After that, it was way more tough.”
After complaining about how tough it was to arrange his tyres in his automotive on the earlier spherical in Suzuka, Leclerc mentioned Ferrari had labored on addressing these considerations over the weekend in China. Requested if he was assured about doing a greater job of getting his tyres in the fitting window in Miami and future rounds, Leclerc replied: “Sure – 100%.
“There’s been loads of work on that,” he mentioned. “It’s not but on the stage the place I wish to be, however I’ve understood the path and shortly I’ll be again on high.”
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2024 Chinese language Grand Prix
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