Sainz mystified at sudden failure to match Leclerc in Spa qualifying

A mystified Carlos Sainz is seeking answers after failing to match team-mate Charles Leclerc's performance in Belgian Grand Prix qualifying. 

After the first runs of a damp Q3, the two Ferrari drivers were seventh and eighth on the times, but had used scrubbed tyres, before switching to a fresh set for the final runs. 

Leclerc vaulted up to second place, which became pole after Max Verstappen's grid penalty, with Sainz remaining eighth-quickest, although he will be seventh after the Red Bull drops the 10 places.

Sainz did not improve at all on the new intermediates, and was out-qualified by Leclerc by 0.723s, having been faster in both Q1 and Q2. 

Reflecting on the disappointing performance, Sainz was stumped for an answer.

"Q3, run two was the lap that counts," Sainz told media including RacingNews365 of his attempt on the fresh set of intermediates. 

"In the rest of qualifying, I was very strong, and was very comfortable with the car and was putting together some really good laps. 

"But for some reason, with the last set of tyres that were new, I struggled a lot with warm-up, with grip and just couldn't put a lap together. 

"I am going to sit down with my engineers and see what we could have done better."

Sainz lambasts failure

Looking ahead to the race, Sainz lamented the fact that he is starting behind both Mercedes, both McLarens and the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, believing a podium could have been a possibility if he started ahead of those cars.

"We have cars in front of us that have the same pace or are quicker with the McLarens, Red Bulls and Mercedes," he said. 

"I think if we were starting ahead of them, there would be a strong chance of holding onto a podium. 

"Or, if Max doesn't make it through, maybe a win, but unfortunately, we are seventh which means we are going to have to be the ones who recover, which will not be easy but we will give it our best shot. 

"Max is probably going to make it through and the McLarens are not as far forward as they would like to be to protect against Max, but their race pace shows they could be extremely difficult for Max."