Sainz forced to resist temptation out of ‘all-or-nothing’ Monaco fear

Carlos Sainz has conceded that he was tempted to make an "all-or-nothing' lunge on Oscar Piastri during the Monaco Grand Prix but opted against it. 

The Spaniard started in third and initially made an excellent start, which saw him go around the outside of Piastri at the first corner. 

However, the slightest of touches saw Sainz sustain a puncture, yet a sudden red flag was his lifesaver as he was allowed to change his tyres and restart from third despite having dropped to last.

When the race restarted, Sainz controlled third and remained on the gearbox of Piastri, who made no errors. 

Sainz settled for the final spot on the podium at the Circuit de Monaco but admitted after the race that he did contemplate a bold lunge. 

"I got tempted a few times, but after lap one and obviously knowing that Monaco is a bit of all-or-nothing, you know that when you go for a move, the most likely outcome is contact between the two cars and a potential DNF for the two cars," said Sainz. 

"And I felt like that was too much to lose for both Oscar and myself, and my team. So unfortunately, Monaco is like that. 

"I did have my opportunities and my temptations, both in the first 15 laps and in the last 10 laps, but never really a clear chance to see how we could get out of the corner untouched. So, yeah, as I knew from Friday, my race pace was going to be good. 

"I was the fastest on Friday practice in terms of race pace. Again, today, when I could show the pace, it was really, really good. But Monaco is track position and we lost it to Oscar yesterday."
 

'Slight cut'

Sainz's lap one puncture was caused by a "slight cut" to his front left tyre, which saw him lock-up and come to a stop at Casino just prior to the red flag. 

His contact with Piastri was so small it was almost not visible, although to the 29-year-old's relief, the only damage to his SF24 was the puncture.

"No, even when you see the tyre, it was such a slight cut that the tyre got from the contact that there was no issues with the car, no damage," Sainz added. 

"It was just the smallest of contacts. A bit unlucky to get the puncture in a way, but then lucky to get the position back. From there on, honestly, it was a new race and we had our opportunities, but never really a clear one."