Carlos Sainz believes he is “in the best place” possible at Ferrari to achieve his ambition of becoming a Formula 1 World Champion.
The Spaniard capitalised on Red Bull getting unstuck during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend to prevent the Austrian outfit from completing a momentous clean sweep.
However, Ferrari’s struggles with an inconsistent SF-23 challenger meant that was the team’s only success of the season as it dropped to third in the championship.
Having pursued a mid-season change of concept to the downwash sidepod solution, the Italian marque will plan to alter “95 per cent of components” on its car for next year.
Sainz, who will enter his fourth season driving for Ferrari in 2024, is adamant that he can still fulfil his dream of becoming an F1 title winner within his current environment.
“I am in the best place on the F1 grid to be an F1 champion, without a doubt,” Sainz told DAZN. “Until you are inside Ferrari you don’t experience it. You are practically racing for an entire country.
“I give my all at work, on the track, training to be World Champion and do it with Ferrari.”
Amid reports that both he and team-mate Charles Leclerc will sign extensions, Sainz admits he can see himself remaining at Ferrari for the remainder of his F1 career.
“I am so happy at Ferrari and so happy to be part of this team that, at the moment, I do not see an expiration date,” he continued.
“I have, I hope, many years ahead of me and counting all of them in red would not matter to me.
“My main motivation is to be World Champion. And if I can achieve that with Ferrari, even better. It is what we have to try in 2024 and I think what capacity we have.”
Expanding on his relationship with Leclerc, whom he has partnered with since 2021, Sainz believes the competitive dynamic between the pair on the track is productive.
“In every race, we are within half a tenth of each other. Charles Leclerc and I are always together,” he assessed.
“The ability he has on one lap, the ability he has in the race to come back and gain positions at the start… We make a very good pair. We make a very good pairing”, Carlos proclaims.
“I think we are two drivers who get on very well together. I think that’s the best thing for the team, to have two drivers pushing each other. I think we have a healthy competition between us, but we always prioritise the team.
“I try to bite when I have to bite and I try to control myself when I have to control myself.”
