Carlos Sainz valued his fifth place and fastest lap after leaving 19th on the grid in France, but admitted that the podium would have been the perfect ending. The Spaniard, however, defended the tactics chosen by Ferrari and assured that he has full confidence in the Italian team
Carlos Sainz was one of the best drivers of the French GP. This Sunday (24th), the Spaniard started 19th because of the engine change and finished fifth, even taking the point of the fastest lap. But the impression is that he could have gone even further. The Spaniard pinched third place, but stopped soon after to change a set of worn medium tires and serve the 5s penalty that came in a very bad first pit-stop by Ferrari.
The decision to stop came from the team, but Sainz defended Ferrari's choice. And he said that pit-stop and tactical failures happen to everyone, but are overrated with the Italians. With everything that happened, the Spaniard understands that he had a decent result.
"We couldn't win, but a podium would have been a perfect race for us. But Max was perfect, you couldn't beat him, I think. It was a nice recovery after a qualifying where I would have been pole or second without the penalty. The victory could have come this way, but starting 19th and with that pit-stop, it turned out that fifth and the fastest lap were acceptable," he said.
Carlos commented that Ferrari has made good choices on the tactics side of the season and defended the pit-stop option at the end, as he would have a long stint of worn medium tires still ahead of him.
"I think the team has done a good job on strategy in 2022. I still think they exaggerate their criticism of us for things that other teams do as well, but, yes, it was a tricky moment in the tactics. I don't think there is any disaster, but I was right in the middle of a fight for position. I'm sure they did it with the best of intentions, we'll analyze everything," he continued.
Sainz admitted that he would have liked to stay on track after making the great maneuver that would have earned him third position against Sergio Pérez, but he acknowledged that it would be difficult to stay there with the punishment he had. It's just that Ferrari let him loose on Nicholas Latifi and generated 5s sanction in the pits.
"If I hadn't passed Perez, I would quietly go into the pits, do the punishment and that's it, but as I passed, I thought I could stay on track and open the 5s, but our numbers said that was impossible. And that I could stay behind Alonso. So we got the fifth place and the fastest lap," he added.
Formula 1 returns next weekend, July 29-31, at the Hungaroring, with the Hungarian Grand Prix, which closes the first part of the championship.