Carlos Sainz admits the upgrades Ferrari needs to bridge the deficit to Red Bull might come too late to contend for the championship in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Ferrari has emerged as the closest challenger to Red Bull in the nascent stages of the 2024 season, with the marque landing five podiums with its revised SF-24 car.
That included Carlos Sainz leading a Ferrari 1-2 in Australia as the Spaniard capitalised on Max Verstappen retiring with a brake problem to lead Charles Leclerc home.
However, Red Bull responded in emphatic fashion in Japan last weekend to extend its points advantage as Verstappen secured the team’s third 1-2 finish in four races.
But Sainz took encouragement from Ferrari’s progress at Suzuka compared to six months ago, trailing 20s seconds behind Verstappen compared to 44s in September.
“We exactly improved the car in the places that we wanted to improve it, and Suzuka proves it,” Sainz said.
Still, places like Suzuka, we are not as quick as the Red Bull, which is the target, but as soon as we bring a good upgrade to the car that goes in the right direction.
“Hopefully it can get us closer. But yeah, we’ve improved everywhere, and especially in the race pace.”
Sainz reckons that the Austrian outfit will continue to uphold a considerable margin over the competition in the opening rounds until its rivals introduce developments.
“I think they are 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,” he said.
“But by that time maybe it’s a bit too late with the advantage that they might have on the championship.”
Sainz suggested that Ferrari needs more front-limited circuits like Albert Park to challenge Red Bull in the interim period before its upgrades arrive at Imola next month.
The Spaniard also rued being sidelined from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis, having stood on the rostrum in all three races he has contested to date.
“In the meantime, we need more Australias! Which I don’t see Red Bull, as a team, making these mistakes very often,” he continued.
“no. A shame, because also I missed a race, which for both the team and me, it could be costly in the championship. We’re competing in one race less.
“But at the same time, we’re going to give it our best shot. It’s my last year in Ferrari also, so yeah, nothing to lose and we will try everything to make it back.”
