Shaking Sainz "nearly messed up" en route to career-equalling qualifying best

Italian Grand Prix

Shaking Sainz "nearly messed up" en route to career-equalling qualifying best

McLaren driver shrugged off error to storm to second row of grid

Ewan Gale

Saturday 5 September 2020 16:38 Updated: 16:50

McLaren driver Carlos Sainz revealed he "nearly messed up" and was left shaking after qualifying a remarkable third for the Italian Grand Prix.

Sainz posted a one minute 19.965secs to position himself on the second row at Monza, lapping slower than only the two Mercedes' as he equalled his best qualifying result in Formula 1.

Speaking immediately after qualifying, Sainz admitted he had a "big moment" through the Lesmo corners on his first run of Q3.

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"Honestly, I was feeling very strong since the start of qualifying. I managed to go through only with one set [of tyres] with a very strong lap. From there, it was just chipping away to try to put that 1:19.6 on the board which I knew that would have given me top five.

"So I was chipping away. The last lap, I nearly messed up. I had a big moment in Lesmo one and I nearly lost it. And since then on I had to drive like this and I am actually shaking a bit.

"I felt like was nailing Q1 and Q2. Q3 run one, I didn't quite nail it. Waiting for Q3 run two and the lap, it didn't start very well and I was already needing some very strong final corners. I really went for it, I risked a lot and it paid off," the Spaniard explained.

If Sainz can hold on to his position through the race tomorrow, he will score his first podium since Brazil last year and the team's second this season.

But the Spaniard remained coy on his chances, stating McLaren's race pace is slower than the qualifying performance suggests.

"It is not as good as P3," he conceded.

"But we will try to hang on in there. The Renault's this weekend, we thought they were going to be quicker than us but this lap helps."

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