Sainz ‘frustrated’ over missed victory chance in Miami

Carlos Sainz believes a second race victory of the 2024 Formula 1 season slipped through his grasp in Miami last weekend.

Sainz emerged victorious at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year as he embarks on his final season with Ferrari.

McLaren's Lando Norris claimed the first victory of his career on Sunday around the Miami International Autodrome, marking the second time in four races Red Bull has been defeated.

Sainz endured a more trouble-filled event as he was caught up in an intense battle with Oscar Piastri and copped a time penalty for making contact with the Australian.

The Spaniard detailed a list of “frustrations” that occurred during the race - including a missed opportunity to win the event.

“I did a really good start, I was P2 going into Turn 1 and like they said in the old school days, Checo came like a torpedo,” Sainz said.

“He nearly took us all with him, we took avoiding action. I lost positions for that move and from there, I had good pace.

“If we would have extended one more lap, we would have won this race like Lando did. We boxed the lap before the safety car and we were ahead of Lando at the time.

“So I’m a bit frustrated there again, a bit frustrated with the start, frustrated with Oscar because he ran us off the track and we had contact.”

Norris 'deserves' F1 win

Explaining his contact with Piastri, Sainz outlined he was forced to be more combative as he struggled to make progress behind rival cars.

“I had to be aggressive to overtake because this weekend for some reason we were struggling to overtake,” he explained.

“I sent it on the inside of Turn 17 [on Piastri] and from then, we had good pace until the end but it was too late.”

Sainz also offered words for his ex-team-mate Norris, whose maiden F1 win came at his 110th grand prix start.

“I think he has been doing amazing in F1 for many years now. He deserved a win for a long time,” he said.

“He was on the lucky side but luck comes to the guys that deserve it and he’s one of them.”