Sainz warns Verstappen: I will have the pace to hold on

Ferrari pole-sitter Carlos Sainz has fired warning shots at Max Verstappen and Red Bull ahead of the British Grand Prix.

The Spanish racer will start from the front after making the most of the wet conditions in qualifying to put in a lap time good enough to register his maiden pole.

Verstappen will start alongside him on the front row and will be full of confidence heading into race day, with Red Bull said to have the car to beat at Silverstone.

But Sainz has warned his former Toro Rosso teammate of his newfound confidence and believes he will have the pace required to take his first Grand Prix win.

"If I look back to FP2, the pace was there and I was feeling at home with the car, and I was pushing hard on the tyres," he explained, speaking to select members of the media, including RacingNews365.com.

"If the feeling is like it was in FP2, then I'm confident that I will be able to hold on to a lead and do my own race, pushing from the beginning.

"If the balance of the car is like it was in FP3, then I think it could be a bit more tricky. But we've changed a few things since FP3 because we found ourselves in with some issues that we didn't expect."

Spaniard not unnerved by maiden pole responsibilities

Sainz will lead the drivers to the grid on Sunday for the first time in his career: dream come true stuff behind the wheel of a scarlet Ferrari.

"Leading the formation lap in a Ferrari will feel great. [It will be] the first time I will do it," he continued.

"I haven't forgotten the feeling since I last led a formation lap, in the Renault World Series.

"I think I've led a couple of races in Formula 1 since: I led at Portimao and it felt great. My target is to do it again."

Sainz: There's no reason to believe we're not quick enough

Despite Red Bull's confidence, Sainz has argued that there is no evidence to suggest that Ferrari do not have the car to beat this weekend, so long as they avoid any race day mistakes.

"There's no reason to believe that we shouldn't be quick enough. It is true that the Red Bull is always as quick as us and sometimes quicker, sometimes a little slower," Sainz continued.

"In the end, those races where it is so tight, it's won by the detail. We need to focus on getting the details right with the strategy, the tyre management, and if we get these things right then we have good track position."