Carlos Sainz rips into Ferrari’s issues, claims they were the sixth-fastest car at the Dutch GP

Despite a rain-affected race, Carlos Sainz powered his Ferrari to a P5 finish.

Carlos Sainz (Image via Imago)

The Dutch Grand Prix posed a series of challenges for Scuderia Ferrari, making it a complex race for the team. Despite the demanding track conditions, Carlos Sainz showcased his prowess by securing a commendable fifth-place finish through a tenacious and unwavering performance. Amidst the chaos of the Dutch Grand Prix, Sainz showcased his talent, clinching the fifth position.

Carlos Sainz mentioned that after assessing the Alpine’s performance, their car was more comparable to the sixth-fastest vehicle during the weekend. He acknowledged that while there were moments where it seemed possible to contend for a podium position, the truth was that their pace was lacking. He pointed out that they realized they were far from competitive when they evaluated their performance once the race had concluded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UpJ0MMNNlw

“I would say after looking at the Alpine [we were] more [like] the sixth-fastest car this weekend. I know at some point it looked that we even could fight for a podium but the reality is that when the race was settled when you look at our pace we were just nowhere,” said Carlos Sainz, according to Autosport.

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Carlos Sainz claims the Dutch GP was the best of his season

Carlos Sainz’s SF-23 at the 2023 Dutch GP (Image credit: PlanetF1)

Amid intermittent rain at the Dutch GP, Carlos Sainz clinched fifth place. With the start dry, rain soon arrived. By lap two, he switched to Intermediate tires. Advancing to seventh, he managed eight laps before another shift to Softs due to track changes. Holding fifth for 31 laps on Softs, he briefly reached third. Late heavy rain led to worn Intermediates as a last resort.

Carlos Sainz mentioned that they had successfully executed a strong race, contending with competitors, not at their pace. He expressed a mix of contentment and pride for achieving a well-executed P5. Nonetheless, he acknowledged struggling with the car’s performance and the challenging race. He concluded that it was undoubtedly one of his best drives of the season.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz has said it would be unfair for F1 to rein in the dominant Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team as they "deserve" to be on top ?

Is the dominance from Red Bull and Max ruining F1? Have your say in the comments ? pic.twitter.com/ViuwlLKJTy
— Autosport (@autosport) August 28, 2023

“We were fighting the whole race with people that were not in our pace. We have to be happy and proud of a well-executed P5. Obviously not happy with the feeling of the car and how much I struggled out there today. It has to be one of my best drives of the season, for sure,” Carlos Sainz stated.

Carlos Sainz currently sits P5 in the drivers’ standings ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc in sixth position. Sainz, however, has not yet secured a podium for his team. After scoring 201 points in the constructors’ standings, the Italian team is placed in fourth position behind Aston Martin.