Sainz insists Ferrari working 'flat out' as worrying issue returns

Carlos Sainz has insisted Ferrari is working "flat out" back in Maranello to overcome the return of bouncing. 

Porpoising was a pressing issue when the current regulations were introduced in 2022, but soon faded out of the sport. 

However, following an upgrade package introduced last weekend in the Spanish Grand Prix, both Sainz and Charles Leclerc have suffered from bouncing. 

Despite the issues, Sainz managed to qualify in fourth for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix, but was honest in conceding Ferrari's issues this weekend. 

"It is a very tricky weekend, we don't seem like we have nailed recently these last couple of races, we seem to be struggling a little bit,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365.

"We are still behind Red Bull and McLaren, in the fight with Mercedes in the race, in the sprint and in quali. But we did some changes going into quali that made maybe the car faster, but also a bit more on the edge. 

"And it was very tricky out there to put our lap together but happy because I think we did a decent lap. We are in P4 which if you had told me before qualifying, I would've taken it."

High-speed woes

Given that Ferrari's issues arose following the introduction of its new upgrades, questions have been asked whether its new parts has worsened the SF24. 

Sainz does not believe this is the case and has stressed that the upgrades work well, just not in high-speed sections where the bouncing appears. 

"No, I think we see it working in all the places where we have no bouncing," added Sainz. "But then if you trigger bouncing in the high-speed and you have to back off. 

"Maybe what you win in some places you lose in the other more high-speed content. 

"But as I said, the team is pushing flat out back at home to try and solve the issue and see how we can come back stronger."