Carlos Sainz laments Ferrari SF-24 will never beat RB20 even though ‘his feeling is much better than last year’

The two-time winner is left without a seat for the 2025 season.

Carlos Sainz laments Ferrari SF-24 will never beat RB20 even though ‘his feeling is much better than last year’

Carlos Sainz (via IMAGO).

It was revealed recently that Carlos Sainz would be breaking away from Ferrari after the end of this season. The Spaniard aims to make the most out of his last season with the red outfit and will take on the challenge seriously. Subsequently, after the conclusion of the pre-season testing, Sainz shared his views on the SF-24 and whether will it challenge the likes of Red Bull or not.

After the testing ended in Bahrain, a rough pecking order had emerged among the paddock. According to experts, the reigning champions were still leading the way followed by the group of Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren. Subsequently, people also believed that the Scuderia was the best of the rest currently. Moreover, they would be the closest team to the Austrian constructor. However, the Spaniard has shared his expectations about the SF-24 beating the RB20 in a recent interview.

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The SF-24 gave us a much better feeling than the SF-23. Is it enough to beat Red Bull ? No, I honestly don’t think so, but we’ll have to wait for the first race to find out. I think Red Bull will be one step ahead and their times on the C3 tire prove it.”

Carlos Sainz said as reported by formulapassion.it

The 29-year-old reckons that the car is in a much healthier place than 12 months ago. However, he refutes that they can be at par with the Red Bulls as they have a much bigger lead. Even in testing, though Ferrari had the fastest times, Red Bull was just behind them with a harder compound of tyres. Also, the fuel loads were unknown to everyone, which also stirred up the curry that Red Bull would be faster.

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What are Carlos Sainz’s plans for the upcoming season?

Sainz has given a tough fight to Charles Leclerc throughout his time at the Maranello. However, with his announcement to leave the team come the end of the season, the Spaniard has determined the goals that he needs to fulfil this year.

Without a doubt, my number one priority is to start the year well. It's something that perhaps in the last two or three years I haven't been able to do and that's why I put so much emphasis on understanding the car in testing. I understood everything I wanted to understand and I felt everything I wanted to feel"
Carlos Sainz said as reported by formulapassion.it

The Spaniard explained that his main priority is to start the year on the right foot after a fairly successful 2023 campaign. The 29-year-old had focused on understanding the car and its complexities during the testing to develop harmony between him and the machinery.

Moreover, Sainz is now getting ready for the upcoming season opener in Bahrain. In addition to that, he looks to make the most out of it, to become an attractive proposition for other teams to land a seat for the 2025 season.

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