Interim conclusion to the first phase of the season in Formula 1 2022: Why Ferrari achieved its main goal but missed out on big success, according to Carlos Sainz
“We probably could have won more races if we had done a bit better.” That’s Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s interim verdict on the 2022 Formula One season, because he thinks his team has already dropped (too) many points in the battle with Red Bull and Mercedes.
In fact, both Sainz and Charles Leclerc have missed out on better results several times since the start of the season, due to technical problems as well as individual driving errors and wrong decisions by the Ferrari command.
That’s why Sainz says: “We need to get better at adapting and making decisions in the race. Maybe all that needs to be thought about a bit more with the new cars. “
Sainz recognises “many lessons” from first phase of season
Even though Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto insists that nothing needs to change in Maranello for the second phase of the season, Sainz does recognise a willingness to learn within the team: “We analyse every mistake or misjudgement. We are very analytical and look at what we could have done better, what we should have done. We learn from that.”
One lesson learned is that Ferrari “clearly has to act perfectly” “if we want to beat Red Bull – and Mercedes, which is gradually getting up to speed”, Sainz said. “Because it’s crystal clear to us: these teams are operating at a very high level. You can’t afford to make a mistake. If you make one mistake, they will beat you. “
In this respect, Ferrari had taken “a lot of lessons” from the first phase of the season. “Probably more than I expected,” says Sainz. “For example, the car was difficult to drive [in the beginning] with my driving style. Then there were a few mistakes at the beginning. A couple of retirements threw me out of the WRC race. “
“Even when my season seemed to get going, the retirement in Austria pulled me back down. So it was difficult, I make no secret of that. On the other hand, I also scored my first pole position and my first win during that time. That’s positive. “
Ferrari 2022: “Main goal” already achieved according to Sainz
Sainz says he is “particularly proud” of the technical progress Ferrari have made with the F1-75 and “our pace in the last races”. He adds: “We’re gradually getting to the level I thought we’d be at.”
Apart from that, he says, Ferrari has already achieved its “main goal” for the 2022 season: “We are again fighting with Red Bull for victories and with Mercedes in the overall standings. That’s what we set out to do.”
But Sainz wants more, namely to “win as many races as possible” as the year progresses. At the same time, Ferrari has to make sure that it uses its fast car in the best possible way. Or as Sainz puts it: “We have to find a way to maximise its performance. “That’s what we will try to find out in the remaining races. Then we’ll see at the end what it means for the overall standings. “
