Carlos Sainz claims Max Verstappen and Red Bull will be ‘difficult to beat’ at the Japanese GP

Max Verstappen was the fastest driver in the first practice session on Friday. While teams failed to do any useful laps in FP2 due to rain.

Carlos Sainz claims Max Verstappen and Red Bull will be ‘difficult to beat’ at the Japanese GP

Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Carlos Sainz had an incredible outing at the Australian GP. The Spanish driver went on to win his first race of the season two weeks after an appendicitis surgery. The 29-year-old would be looking to continue this success at the Japanese GP this weekend. However, Sainz has admitted that Max Verstappen might be the favorite for the race win.

Max Verstappen was the quickest in FP1, followed by Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz in second and third respectively. The Spanish driver claimed that Ferrari were closer to Verstappen and Red Bull in the first practice session that he expected. As such, this was a positive sign compared to the Scuderia’s pace at last year’s race in Suzuka. Although, Sainz acknowledged that it was only FP1 with no information on the fuel loads and engine modes of the Austrian team.

FP1 was a bit closer to the Red Bulls than I anticipated or expected, so positive signs from five months ago [in Japan] to now. Still obviously, it’s FP1 and you don’t know what fuel loads and engine modes they’re running.
Carlos Sainz said, as reported by RacingNews365
YouTube video

Carlos Sainz recalled that Ferrari was a whopping eight tenths slower than Max Verstappen’s pole lap last year. As such, a gap of just two tenths in FP1 was a massive improvement. However, the Spanish driver claimed that it would be difficult for Maranello to defeat Verstappen for the win this weeekend.

FS Video
Last year we were eight-tenths off in qualifying and here, to be two-tenths off in FP1 is a good feeling and a good starting base. But they are going to be difficult to beat this weekend.
Carlos Sainz asserted

Carlos Sainz claims Ferrari SF24 is ‘just better’ than its predecessor

Carlos Sainz claimed that he has been full of confidence throughout the start of the 2024 season. The 29-year-old reckoned that he managed to hit the ground running on Friday in Suzuka. Moreover, Sainz highlighted that Ferrari had a good winter test this year where the team was able to understand the SF24.

I was confident in Bahrain, confident in Jeddah and confident in Australia. I hit the ground running here. So after a good winter test, we understood the car well.
Carlos Sainz stated
Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz (via IMAGO).

Moreover, the Italian team found the right set-up for its 2024 challenger which could suit on the majority of races. Carlos Sainz went as far as stating that the SF24 was simply better than its predecessor which helped matters for the Spaniard and the team.

[Ferrari] found a good set-up that more or less seems to work everywhere. The car is just better this year, which helps.
Carlos Sainz concluded

Scuderia Ferrari certainly could be in a position to fight for the win this weekend. Despite Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s pace advantage, the weather conditions could impact the pecking order. This could put Carlos Sainz or Charles Leclerc in a good position to clinch victory. However, fans would need to wait till Qualifying to understand the true pace of Red Bull and Ferrari.

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