Carlos Sainz struggling to digest Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc destroying Monaco pole chance

Carlos Sainz in actie in de tweede vrije training in Monaco. — Photo: © LAT Images

Monaco Grand Prix

Sainz struggling to digest Ferrari team-mate Leclerc destroying Monaco pole chance

Ferrari driver missed out on flying lap after Leclerc hit the wall

Will Gray

Saturday 22 May 2021 18:21

Carlos Sainz believes he has missed a golden chance to win this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix after Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc crashed into the barriers in the closing stages of Saturday’s qualifying.

Sainz, who joined Ferrari this season, has been one of the fastest around the Monaco streets all weekend but will start from fourth after missing the chance to go for pole on his second run in the final qualifying shoot-out.

A deflated Sainz told Sky Sports F1: “[It’s] very, very frustrating and tough to accept. It’s not like every day of your life you get the chance to go for a pole lap around Monaco.

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“To not have that opportunity in that second run is tremendously frustrating. I’m disappointed because I’ve had the pace all weekend to be on the front row, pole or not, it depends on [Max] Verstappen, Charles or me putting a lap together.

“To not even have that chance is frustrating. Tomorrow, I think I have the pace to win. But I’m starting fourth, so around Monaco, starting fourth, even if you have the pace to win, it's not the easiest.”

Sainz described it as “one of my most frustrating moments as a racing driver” and while he conceded he should be satisfied with his performance he knows he may have missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

“It’s very tricky to digest it," added Sainz. "You never know in the next five years of your life how many chances you’re going to have to put it on pole for Ferrari around Monaco.

“The confidence is high and when I look back at the weekend after a few days to digest, I will look back and say ‘Look, the fifth race for the team and I’m fighting for pole’, so it’s not like I can be disappointed with this.

“But I am a competitive animal and it’s too early after qualifying to look at the big picture right now.

"The big picture is to be optimistic but the narrow vision of knowing I could put it on pole and win and now lining up fourth, it’s tremendously frustrating.”