Carlos Sainz coy on championship chances despite 'fastest driver' claim

Hamilton Sainz and Verstappen in Canada — Photo: © LAT Images

Ferrari

Carlos Sainz coy on championship chances despite 'fastest driver' claim

Sainz finished second in Canada

Sam Hall

Wednesday 22 June 2022 16:00 Updated: 16:08

Carlos Sainz claims he is not thinking about the championship despite believing that he is finally getting to grips with the Ferrari F1-75.

The Spaniard has endured a difficult start to the F1 season compared to team-mate Charles Leclerc but in Canada, he put in his best display of the year and pushed Max Verstappen all the way.

Although Sainz was unable to find a way past, the Ferrari driver boldly proclaimed himself to have been the fastest man on the track on Sunday.

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Asked if this turn of pace has sparked confidence that he can join the title fight with Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez, Sainz explained: "Well, I hope so.

"But as I said a few races ago, I want to take it a bit more race by race, you know, not thinking too much about the championship or anything like that.

"I really want to focus on getting to a track and see if I can get myself in a good window of performance and comfort inside the car.

"I think this weekend I did that, right since FP1 I looked very quick, both in qualifying and race pace."

Sainz lacked fear in Canada chase

Sainz has been unable to match the race-pace of team-mate Leclerc on numerous occasions this year, something that is reflected in his championship standing - fifth and trailing points leader Verstappen by 73.

But in Canada, Sainz felt that some of the changes made by the Scuderia had pushed the car in a direction more to his liking.

"In the race there, I was pushing flat out without any fear of losing the car, like I had, for example, in Barcelona.

"And also, [there is] some good progress being made.

"We’ve changed a few of things on the car to try and make them - to make it a bit more to my liking, and they seem to be working.

"But at the same time, I think I need more circuits, I need more different kinds of corners to have a proper feel for that."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes