(Motorsport-Total.com) – Carlos Sainz is not among the drivers regularly fighting for podiums or wins this Formula 1 season. Accordingly, the Spaniard rarely takes center stage in the coverage. But Sainz sees a problem precisely in this: his performances are significantly underestimated by fans and media because the car simply isn’t competitive enough.
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The 31-year-old is convinced that he is currently operating at one of his highest driving levels ever. Anyone judging his season only by the results would therefore get a false picture.
“It actually doesn’t matter how well I drive,” says Sainz. “For fans and media, you usually remain inconspicuous in such a situation.” The reason for this is the current performance density at the top of Formula 1. A tenth of a second hardly makes headlines anymore.
Sainz points out that small performance differences today often no longer have a big impact on the final result. “Sometimes you’re just a tenth of a second slower, but that makes no difference. You still qualify somewhere in the midfield.”
Especially compared to last year, the situation has changed. “Last year, a tenth of a second in Q2 might have been enough to beat drivers like Antonelli or Hamilton and advance to Q3. Then you would suddenly have made headlines.”
Today it is different. “We are overall too far from the front. As a result, no stories arise, no attention, and people simply don’t see how well you actually drive.”
“Driver Ratings” automatically favor the top teams
The popular driver ratings in the media also reflect this problem, says Sainz. “In the end, the famous Driver Ratings always have the drivers of the best eight cars at the top because they fight for podiums or top-5 results.”
For himself, other standards remain. “I rely on my statistics, on the comparison with my teammate, and on my relative performances.” And exactly these numbers give him a very positive picture. “My statistics are incredibly good this year.”
Qualifying, race pace, and starts speak for Sainz
Sainz is particularly proud of several areas of his season. “I drive strong qualifying sessions, my race pace is very good, and I am the best starter on the grid.” He means not only his reaction times at the start but also the positions gained in the early phase of a race.
“Everything I can influence, I am delivering at the moment.” Although these performances are hardly noticed publicly, it bothers him, but at the same time, Sainz believes that exactly the right people are still watching very closely.
Team principals see much more than fans
“I believe team principals and teams look at all these details,” explains the Spaniard. While media and viewers naturally perceive mainly the TV images and results, the racing teams work with much more extensive analyses.
“Maybe fans and media don’t see every detail because we are not on TV or don’t make headlines. But the people in Formula 1 have all the data and analyze every little thing.”
Therefore, despite the lack of attention, Sainz looks back on his season with satisfaction. “In this respect, I am very happy with my year – even if I don’t particularly shine with it.”
The second winter makes the difference
Sainz attributes the significant improvement in his performance compared to the first half of last year mainly to increasing familiarity with the team. “It’s quite natural. In the second year, I know my engineers much better and understand the car much better.”
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Already after the summer break of last season, his performance level noticeably changed. “Since the second half of last year, I have been driving at a very high level.” The numerous podiums in the further course of the season as well as his consistent performances this year are the best proof of this.
Why drivers need time
For Sainz, this development confirms a conviction he has held for a long time. “That’s why I always say: a driver needs time to settle into a team before he can regularly call up 100 percent of his potential.”
However, his fundamental working method hardly changes regardless of the car’s competitiveness. “It doesn’t matter to me whether I fight for wins or for 16th place. I approach every weekend with the same mentality.”
Of course, he would prefer to fight for race wins. “Honestly, I would much rather fight for wins and podiums.” But his own performance does not depend on that. “Maybe it would look different if I had to fight for 16th place for five years. But at the moment, I am highly motivated and just try to get the maximum out every time.”
Ferrari surprised him with detailed scouting
Sainz describes impressively how meticulously top teams analyze their drivers. When Ferrari signed him back then, he was literally surprised how deeply the Scuderia had evaluated his career.
“When I came to Ferrari, Mattia Binotto and Laurent Mekies showed me a document with all my performances from the past six years.” The level of detail literally shocked him. “I was really surprised how much they knew.”
Ferrari had evaluated all conditions – qualifying, races, comparisons with teammates as well as performances in dry, wet, and mixed conditions. “They had statistics about my performances in Q1, Q2, and Q3, about races in dry, rain, and changing conditions.”
Especially remarkable: Ferrari even showed him exactly those weaknesses that Sainz himself had already worked on. “They presented me exactly the statistics that I myself knew I had to improve on.”
Only then did he understand how professionally the scouting of the top teams actually works. “They scouted me and therefore selected me.” Back then, Ferrari had tested several candidates for the cockpit, including Daniel Ricciardo. Ultimately, the decision fell on Sainz – not because of individual headlines, but based on long-term data analyses.
“I was impressed and at the same time very happy to see that top teams really recognize every detail with their capabilities.”
Future? Sainz only thinks about his current project
Even though the driver market is already picking up again and Williams is currently far from its own ambitions, Sainz says he is not concerned with possible alternatives. “Of course, it always helps to show good performances, even if they are not particularly noticeable.”
His priorities are clear, however. “I know exactly what I want for my future.” And he still sees this future with his current team. “I want this project to work.”
How serious he is about this is underlined by Sainz with clear words. “You can’t imagine how much work I put into this project and how much I try to help the team. That’s exactly how it will continue. My full focus is on this project.”
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