Ferrari and Shell have worked together in motor racing since the 1930s. In doing so, the famous automaker and the well-known fuel supplier maintain the longest-lasting partnership in motorsports. In 2022, Shell faced a major challenge and it was perfectly executed, according to Carlos Sainz. Carlos Sainz won his first Grand Prix in Formula One in 2022. The Spaniard won the spectacular British Grand Prix. RacingNews365 sought out the Ferrari driver in the team's garage during the Abu Dhabi GP to look back on that special day at Silverstone: "To take a first victory in F1 for a team like Ferrari is already amazing, but to do it on a circuit like Silverstone made the moment complete. It was a special day in my racing career and I will never forget the memories of that day." "The race was also one of the best races of the season, so that made the day even more special actually. Being on the podium was the best moment of the day, because you get to hear the Spanish and Italian national anthems and see the people from the team standing below. That gives a great feeling," said Sainz whose eyes clearly still radiate pride when he thinks back to the moments at Silverstone. A moment that could not have taken place without the help of Shell, the partner associated with Scuderia Ferrari since the 1950s. This year, the fuel supplier was faced with a major task that Sainz said they executed perfectly. "This season it was mandatory to race with 10% bio ethanol fuel," Sainz reflected on the challenge Shell faced during season start in Bahrain. "Looking at this season, I think it gave us an advantage that Shell is so strong with creating the fuel with 10% bio ethanol. They have experience with it and have worked hard in recent years to create the highest quality version. Because they have created an excellent product, as a driver the difference from last year was not noticeable. This is because they have worked hard in the last few years on the project with 10% bio ethanol and they will do the same with creating the 100% sustainable fuel in 2026."
Shell works on performance and reliability
According to the 28-year-old driver, the long-term cooperation between Shell and Ferrari ensures that they can continue to make the excellent products. "It is interesting to see how long Ferrari and Shell have been working together. When you come to work at Ferrari you immediately see how strong the cooperation is, both parties know each other through and through and therefore the cooperation between the parties is excellent. During the season, as a driver, you often come here to Shell's track lab and you see how hard they are working to make everything perfect for us. They are constantly working to improve performance and keep an eye on reliability." At the beginning of the season, Ferrari got off to a flying start with a 1-2 victory at the season opener in Bahrain. A special moment for Sainz since he was not yet used to competing at the front in Formula 1: "It was quite a different season this year because you are competing at the front, which is more stressful. Unfortunately at the beginning of the year I had to get used to the car. As a result, I was less competitive in the beginning of the season than towards the end, where I drove well. I hope to take that into next year, where I hope to have a better start to the season. Again, we hope to be at the start with a competitive car in 2023. We are working hard on that, developing the bolide as much as possible." Next season, F1 and Sainz also face another challenge. Indeed, there are currently 24 races scheduled in 2023. Something Sainz does not see as a problem, however. "24 races is quite a lot, but I'm young and probably in the best phase of my career. So for me it's doable, I enjoy traveling and being able to be competitive. I'm currently living my dream as a Ferrari driver and I love seeing the world." "So I'm not a complainer about the calendar, but at the same time I do think it's very tough for other people in the paddock. A lot of people within the teams are away from their families a lot and that weighs heavily. So we have to look carefully at how we can get it right for all the people in the paddock, that there is going to be a right balance for their private lives. F1 will have to compromise on that."
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