Carlos Sainz labels 2023 as the ‘toughest year’ of his career as Ferrari continues to disappoint

Carlos Sainz says their 2023 season has not met their expectations and calls it the toughest season thus far.

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari (Credits: WTF1)

The 2023 Formula 1 season has been a rollercoaster ride for Ferrari, leaving them grappling with unforeseen hurdles and disappointment. Amidst their ambitions for a remarkable comeback, the team has faced setbacks that have hindered their progress. Ferrari’s driver Carlos Sainz sheds light on the difficulties encountered and the determination needed to overcome them.

“It’s been tougher than any other year,” Carlos Sainz reveals. “Expectations were…I felt like 2022 was a bit of a comeback finally to the top for Ferrari. And I feel like we all expected to at least be fighting at a similar level.” The Spaniards noted that they were now dealing with unpredictability as a result of a tough automobile. He also stated that it was getting increasingly difficult to foresee and adjust to many elements, such as changing weather, tire wear, and wind. “It’s not an easy car,” Sainz admitted candidly.

The SF-23, Ferrari’s newest car, performed well in qualifying but fell short in race performance and tire degradation. Throughout the race, it became clear that the vehicle struggled to keep up with the leading field. The Miami Grand Prix last weekend was clear evidence of Ferrari’s deterioration. Only a year ago, the Ferraris grabbed the front row with Charles Leclerc on pole and finished second and third. However, they were surpassed not just by Red Bull but also by Aston Martin and Mercedes this time.

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Carlos Sainz voices confidence in the team amidst Ferrari’s slip back

Carlos Sainz at Baku (Credits: Autosport)

“It’s realistic to say Red Bull has achieved a level of performance that it’s very difficult to achieve just by making an evolution of our car,” he said. After the first races, Sainz stated that they had discovered obvious flaws in their package, even compared to the previous year. He stressed that they were now focusing their efforts on addressing this convergence of issues. “It doesn’t hurt me as much to be fourth in the constructors’ championship or fifth or sixth in the drivers’ standings. What hurts me more is the gap to Red Bull,” he further added.

Despite the setbacks, Sainz remains hopeful and believes Ferrari has identified crucial weaknesses in their package, including shortcomings compared to the previous year. The team has been working tirelessly to address these issues and set a new direction for development. Sainz commends the team’s efforts in utilizing the early part of the season to understand their weaknesses better.

Un messaggio da casa ❤️?? pic.twitter.com/lKFQCJ0uzs
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) May 17, 2023

Amidst speculation surrounding his future, Carlos Sainz affirmed his commitment to Ferrari in both the short and medium terms. He sees himself continuing with the team and strongly desires to be successful alongside them. “My immediate future, I only see it with Ferrari and wanting to be successful with this team,” Sainz emphasizes.

Ferrari had undergone a massive management overhaul before the start of 2023, highlighting the team’s efforts to turn things around. However, they faced challenges as the SF-23 proved to have a low ceiling for competitiveness against Red Bull’s dominant concept. They currently stand fourth in the standings and have a tall ladder to climb if they want to challenge for second in the table, let alone Red Bull, who seem to be the absolute favorites.