close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US

McLaren investigating why car is "very far away" from "sweet spot" at Mugello - Sainz

Photo: © LAT Images

McLaren investigating why car is "very far away" from "sweet spot" at Mugello - Sainz

Sainz and McLaren have a lot of ground to make up

Ian Parkes & Nicolas Quarles van Ufford
Google Make us your Google favorite

Carlos Sainz has confirmed McLaren is undertaking "a lot of investigation" to understand its day of struggle at Mugello.

Just five days after the high of finishing a Formula 1 career-best second in the Italian Grand Prix, Sainz found himself 1.6secs off the pace in second practice ahead of this weekend's Tuscan Grand Prix.

On a difficult day for McLaren, team-mate Lando Norris managed only nine laps in FP2 following a crash.

"It hasn’t been an easy day out on track," said Sainz.

"The car was very far away from the ideal balance, from the ideal sweet spot of the car that we know where it is, but we haven’t quite found it this weekend in this track and these kinds of corners.

"A lot of investigation now going on, trying to put together a better car for tomorrow which, if all of a sudden we manage to put it in the right place, it should be a much better day."

Sainz believes the problems posed by Mugello are difficult to tackle, although is confident McLaren will find a resolution.

"The tarmac for us feels very low grip, very strange balance overall," added Sainz. "It’s not like we can all of a sudden put [on] the Monza set-up and fly here.

"We need to keep an eye on this track. It’s very different characteristics and we just need to find the sweet spot. I’m sure once we find it there, all of a sudden it will be a lot easier."

Before you go...

Leclerc believes Ferrari filming day led to "surprise" practice pace

Perez handed one-place grid drop after Raikkonen collision

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 star rocked by late FIA penalty at British Grand Prix

F1 star rocked by late FIA penalty at British Grand Prix

  • 22 minutes ago
Christian Horner to release tell-all book after shock F1 exit

Christian Horner to release tell-all book after shock F1 exit

  • 52 minutes ago
F1 2026 British Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Silverstone

F1 2026 British Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Silverstone

  • 1 hour ago
Lando Norris tears into McLaren team at British Grand Prix - 'Just get it right for once'

Lando Norris tears into McLaren team at British Grand Prix - 'Just get it right for once'

  • 1 hour ago
F1 Qualifying Results Today: British Grand Prix times and positions

F1 Qualifying Results Today: British Grand Prix times and positions

  • 2 hours ago
British Grand Prix Tickets: Top tips for Silverstone 2027

British Grand Prix Tickets: Top tips for Silverstone 2027

  • Today 16:42

Just in

20:25
F1 star rocked by late FIA penalty at British Grand Prix
19:55
Christian Horner to release tell-all book after shock F1 exit
19:14
F1 2026 British Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Silverstone
18:55
Lando Norris tears into McLaren team at British Grand Prix - 'Just get it right for once'
18:16
F1 Qualifying Results Today: British Grand Prix times and positions
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

F1 star rocked by late FIA penalty at British Grand Prix British Grand Prix

F1 star rocked by late FIA penalty at British Grand Prix

22 minutes ago
Lando Norris tears into McLaren team at British Grand Prix - 'Just get it right for once' British Grand Prix

Lando Norris tears into McLaren team at British Grand Prix - 'Just get it right for once'

1 hour ago
F1 Qualifying Results Today: British Grand Prix times and positions British Grand Prix Qualifying

F1 Qualifying Results Today: British Grand Prix times and positions

2 hours ago
British Grand Prix Tickets: Top tips for Silverstone 2027 F1 British Grand Prix

British Grand Prix Tickets: Top tips for Silverstone 2027

Today 16:42
Ontdek het op Google Play
x