Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz believes that the team should have been more decisive with its tyre strategy at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix after a suboptimal race outing.
Sainz started on the Hard tyre at Spa but managed to make up an early place in the opening laps.
High degradation on a newly surfaced track brought several strategies into play as the race unfolded, with George Russell taking the checkered flag first on the one-stop strategy.
While the Brit was ultimately disqualified for running below the minimum race requirement, Sainz says Ferrari could well have emulated his plan.
The Spaniard, who was this week unveiled as Williams’ second seat for 2025, said he opened the race feeling “very optimistic and positive” about his position but was left ruing his decision to box for the Medium tyre on Lap 21.
“We managed to extend it quite a bit, to lap 20, with hindsight not long enough, because the one-stop seemed like a good possibility today,” Sainz reflected after the race.
“Probably the main thing is that we didn’t do a one- but we also didn’t do an optimal two- because we boxed either too late for the two- or too early for the one-.
“It’s easy to say now in hindsight but I felt like the race was promising a lot more.”
Sainz says that he even believed a podium was within reach after 20 laps, but he eventually drifted back to seventh behind Sergio Perez.
“I think, starting on Hards, if anything we would’ve needed to commit to extending another 10 laps at least,” he said.
“And if we were on a two-stop, maybe boxing five-six laps earlier to spend as much time as possible on that Hard tyre that today was performing really well.”
Despite the missed opportunity, Sainz reckons the result may not have changed that much with a better strategy, admitting rivals Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren are still a step ahead on race pace.
“At the same time I think our direct competitors today were quicker so I don’t think it would’ve changed much,” he stated when asked if Ferrari had made a step in the right direction this weekend.
“With our car, we started on pole and we still finished fourth, with my car, I felt like we were on for a podium and then as soon as everyone put the Hards on you could see which pace everyone was doing.
“Even though my last stint, I felt very competitive and quick, then when they told me the lap times of the others.”
Both Sainz and team-mate Charles Leclerc attested after the race that Ferrari has not solved the bouncing problem plaguing the SF-24 this season, the issue seemingly more prevalent on faster tracks and high-speed corners.
With the Summer break upon us and Sainz’s future now secure, the team will be looking to take a step in the second half of the season.
Russell’s disqualification on Sunday after the race gives Ferrari a vital lifeline in the fight for third place in the Constructors Championship, with a 79 cushion to Mercedes in fourth.
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