Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has explained the key to Carlos Sainz's resurgence in form for the second half of the 2023 Formula 1 season. Sainz has often trailed team-mate Charles Leclerc in races, but the Spaniard has out-raced him at both Zandvoort and Monza. He has also comfortably led Leclerc over the course of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, with him topping two of the three practice sessions before taking pole in qualifying. Vasseur explained his form when speaking to Sky Sports : "In the group between P2 and P10, for one or two tenths you can move from the top to the bottom. "The extra high confidence after Monza is helping us and from the beginning of the weekend, we are there with Carlos [who] was always the top of the of the field. "From this you are building up the pace and the confidence [throughout the weekend]."
Difference between before and after Monza
Vasseur noted how Sainz "stepped up" in the wake of his podium at Monza, and he believes developing his confidence in the SF-23 has been an important part. "The big difference for Carlos is that, if you compare the first part of the season and after Monza, it's that he is into the pace from the first lap in FP1," said Vassuer. "Whereas he was struggling a bit more at the beginning of the season and sometimes he had to put another set [of tyres on] in Q1. "From Monza he is there from FP1 and I think he did a very good job with the preparation of the weekend."
Most read
