Sainz voices Ferrari plea to combat Mercedes threat

Carlos Sainz has called on Ferrari to reach its upgrade targets after being "out-developed" by Mercedes over the course of the current F1 season.

The 29-year-old will leave the Scuderia at the end of 2024, but that has not stopped him holding the team to account.

The Maranello-based outfit began this year as the second-best team, but has since slipped behind McLaren and Mercedes in the development race.

The Papaya team now finds itself in a fight with Red Bull for supremacy, with Ferrari going toe-to-toe with the lattermost team - although, as highlighted by Sainz, the German marque holds a net advantage.

The three-time grand prix winner feels that in order to battle Mercedes across different conditions, it is time for Ferrari to start reaching its development targets.

"Mercedes has been in a couple of races, where in cold tracks - where it suit them - they can win the race, like we saw," the Spanish driver explained to media including RacingNews365. "All the tracks like [Hungary], we seem to be very on par with them.

"At the same time, when you look at where they were eight races ago, and where they are now, clearly they've out-developed us and now it's time for us to clearly try and hit our development targets."

Sainz optimistic but realistic about Spa prospects

As F1 heads to Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari faces a circuit it has struggled at in recent times.

It is expected to be significantly cooler in Belgium than in Hungary, and the weekend looks likely to be disrupted by changeable conditions.

Despite this, Sainz is remaining quietly hopeful for a better weekend in the Ardennes Forest than those that have come before.

"Spa's always been one of our toughest tracks," he contended. "As our team, I think we've always struggled there in the last two years.

"At the same time, I feel like you never know. Our low downforce rear wing might work a bit better this year and we might be a bit more performing. So, obviously always optimistic, at the same time realistic."