Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix — Photo: © LAT Images

Ferrari

Sainz looking to rediscover F1 "strength" at Ferrari

Sainz has explained what he is lacking since his switch from McLaren

Will Gray

Wednesday 2 June 2021 15:14

Carlos Sainz has insisted he is aiming to rediscover his lightning-fast race starts after failing to carry his form across to Ferrari from McLaren.

The Spaniard criticised himself after the Spanish Grand Prix for his lacklustre starts so far this season and said his performance off the line was “nothing special" at Monaco either.

However, he moved to clarify his comments and explained: “My starts haven’t been bad. The criticism that I did to myself in Spain and maybe my first laps this year, it’s not like they’ve been a disaster, it’s just it hasn’t been my strength.

Article continues under video

“It used to be my strength as a driver for the last three years and I want to be the best starter on the grid because that is what I am aiming for and actually what I have been in the last few years in F1.”

F1's best starters

Sainz claimed to have “been in the top three starters” in recent years, although a social post from F1 in November last year showed he did not make the top six starters, when measured on first lap positions gained.

The most successful four were understandably those at the back of the grid, but of the front-runners, it was Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo, with 12 positions gained each, who were the best.

Sainz added: “You will hear me being super self-critical because I believe I can do better. [In Monaco] I could have done better. The start was good but it was nothing special and I am sure it won’t be the best on the grid.

“So, still a lot to keep learning, still a lot to analyse and improve because in that aspect I believe I can still do better, but it’s not like I am destroying my races with the start or in the first 100 metres.”