F1 News: Carlos Sainz Ready to Fight - 'I Have Nothing to Lose'

As the 2024 Formula One season unfolds, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is gearing up for what could be a pivotal year in his career. With Ferrari set to part ways with him at the season’s end, Sainz’s resolve appears stronger than ever. The Spanish driver is the only one aside from Max Verstappen of Red Bull to clinch a victory this season, a feat he accomplished during the Australian Grand Prix when Verstappen retired early from the race.

"They're definitely going to have an advantage in the first third of the season until we bring one or two upgrades that makes us fight them more consistently," Sainz explained, revealing Ferrari’s strategy to bridge the pace gap with Red Bull.

"By that time, maybe it's a bit too late with the advantage that they might have on the championship."

While the prospects of outpacing Red Bull throughout the season seem daunting, Sainz highlights the importance of seizing every opportunity, especially those arising from rare mistakes by the dominant team.

"In the meantime we need more Australias, but I don't see Red Bull as a team making these mistakes very often."

Sainz’s 2024 campaign hasn’t been without its challenges. An unexpected bout of appendicitis during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix forced him to miss a race, potentially jeopardizing his championship hopes.

"It's a shame," Sainz lamented. "I missed a race, which for both the team and me could be costly in the championship.

"But at the same time we're going to give it our best shot. It's my last year at Ferrari so [I have] nothing to lose, and we will try everything to make it back."

On a development front, Ferrari’s advancements have been significant under the guidance of Team Principal Frederic Vasseur. The team has made notable improvements in handling high-speed corners and tire degradation, essential for competing on tracks like Suzuka, known for its demanding layout.

"We made a huge step forward on the high-speed compared to last year and for sure Suzuka is a good example," Vasseur said. He acknowledges, however, that while strides have been made, the car still exhibits certain weaknesses.

"And on the tyre management mode. But we still have weaknesses."

Vasseur also highlighted the competitive nature of Formula One in 2024, where minor differences can lead to major shifts in race outcomes, underscoring the need for continuous adaptation and humility.

"It's always kind of compromise: you improve somewhere and you're losing somewhere else."

"For sure [they] are still a little bit ahead. But the target is to be able to put them under pressure, and with pressure you're making more mistakes."

"It's so tight that I think what is crucial in my business is the humility."

"You had four teams in one tenth in qualifying [in Japan]. It means that you don't have to consider that what you did one weekend will be true the weekend after."

"We'll start from scratch next week, and we have to keep this mindset for all the races."

As the season progresses, both Sainz and Ferrari are set on making every race count, with the hope of reducing Red Bull's lead and turning the tables in what could be a thrilling finish to the year.