Carlos Sainz has said he is adopting the approach that saw him triumph in Singapore last term as he strives to replicate that result in Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Sainz capitalised on Red Bull’s surprise uncompetitiveness around the Marina Bay Street Circuit to be the sole driver outside the Austrian squad to win a race in 2023.
The Spaniard has since added to that with success in this season’s Australian Grand Prix and is targeting further victories in 2024 as the pack converges on Red Bull.
Both Ferrari and McLaren have introduced upgrades in recent rounds that have slashed the deficit to the reigning champions and Monaco is touted to be a tight affair.
Sainz has stressed how important it is to begin a race weekend on a street track with confidence in the car from the outset as he bids to repeat his Singapore heroics.
“I know how important that is,” Sainz said when it was put to him that it’s important to begin the weekend in Monaco with a strong baseline package.
“Coming off the back of the win in Singapore, I know how important it is to hit the ground running, have a good feeling with the car straight away in FP1, and nailing the weekend.
“Facing that this weekend I’ve been with the same philosophy, just trying to be straight on the pace straight away.
“I know what it takes to win on a street track, and how important the build-up of the weekend is, how important it is to nail qualifying.
“With that spirit in mind, I’m going to try to put together the strongest possible weekend and see where that takes us.”
Monaco’s unique circuit characteristics have prompted the Red Bull camp to urge caution over its prospects, with advisor Helmut Marko labelling Ferrari as favourites.
But while Sainz agrees there could be several contenders at the top, he has warned that Ferrari’s inherent weaknesses this season could be most exposed at Monaco.
“Seeing it from a very honest perspective, I think any of the top teams right now can win Monaco,” Sainz assessed.
“I think Monaco is such a special weekend, such a special track, that it just requires a bit of a better outlap, a clean qualifying lap, for you to become the Monaco race winner.
“I think between Red Bull McLaren and us, I think we’re going to be very tight. We start this weekend in equal terms.
“It’s going to be all about who adapts their car better to these streets.
“Low speed hasn’t been our strength this year, so I’m a bit more cautious on that front. Qualifying lap hasn’t been our strength this year, and we know how important Monaco is.
“That’s why maybe lowering expectations is a bit my job now, after the question you’ve asked me. But this doesn’t mean that we’re not targeting a win.
“I think we are targeting to win here this weekend, and we’re going to do everything we can to try to nail the outlap, try to nail the Q3 lap, and nail the strategy in the race.”
Sainz has scored points on all eight occasions he’s raced at Monte Carlo and has stood on the podium rostrum twice with second-place finishes in both 2021 and 2022.
“I think Monaco is always special. It doesn’t matter what year or what moment, but when it comes to Monaco, I think we all mark it in the calendar as a very special race,” he said.
“I love racing here. I have very good memories because it was where I did the first podium with Ferrari in 2021. I was close to winning in 2022.
“But in general, I have a lot of desire to race here.
“I think it’s an open mind because it’s one of those circuits that anyone can win or one of the top teams. I think anyone who does a good lap of quali can get the chance to win.”
