The Spanish driver abandoned the race in Baku, at the Azerbaijan GP this Sunday (12), on the ninth lap - but said he doesn't see reliability as the Italian team's biggest villain so far this season
Carlos Sainz abandoned this Sunday's Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on lap number nine. Due to a hydraulic problem in his F1-75, the Spaniard was once again unable to cross the finish line - this time, however, not due to his own error.
After the race, however, Sainz disagreed with the view that reliability is Ferrari's biggest villain in the current season. For the driver of the Italian team, the Maranello team's lack of 'momentum' makes their hopes for the year unfeasible.
"More than reliability, which hasn't been so bad, the problem is the momentum. We are trying to have two clean races in a row, but it has been impossible. Today, especially, an abandonment coming on lap nine, when I'm still fitting laps and taking information from the car," analyzed the Spaniard.
"We were eager to start accelerating for good after nine laps of tire management, but the hydraulics (of the car) 'went away' and that was it. Even more frustrating to see Charles (Leclerc) unable to complete the race," he pointed out.
The double abandonment caused huge damage for Ferrari, which saw Red Bull maximize its opportunity and collect as many points as possible in Azerbaijan: 1-2 with Verstappen leading and best lap of the race for Pérez.
Frustration, therefore, for the Italian escuderia, but especially for Sainz. The Spaniard increasingly sees the leaders far away, with only 83 points earned so far - for comparison, Verstappen, Pérez and Leclerc have 150, 129 and 116, respectively. No lowering of heads, however.
"For sure it's a complicated day for Ferrari, for all of us, but we are a team. We go through different moments in a year, and this for sure is one of the most difficult and frustrating. But we will make sure that we recover from this," he said.
"It's very difficult, and so far in the 2022 Formula One season, things have been like that for me. It is extremely frustrating, but we have to recover and we need to stay patient and positive for the future," Sainz finished.