Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is “hopeful” that the new upgrade package coming in time for the team’s home Grand Prix at Monza will eradicate its bouncing issues.
After winning two of the first eight races in 2024, Ferrari looked well-poised to continue challenging the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren with an upgrade package at the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
Sadly for the Italian marque, the upgrade didn’t work as desired and the Scuderia has been scrambling ever since to eradicate a bouncing issue.
With a new raft of upgrades, including a new floor coming in time for the Italian GP this weekend, Sainz is hoping the team has found a solution.
“I hope once we unlock or discover what is the actual thing that is generating this porpoising, which I feel like we’re a step behind in understanding that,” the Spaniard said at Zandvoort following the Dutch GP.
“Hopefully with this new floor or new upgrades that we’ll bring soon, these problems go away and we can just focus on adding downforce to the car.”
Sainz rued that the team had to adjust its ride height at Zandvoort to mitigate its bouncing issues, which in the ground effect era of F1, means sacrificing raw pace.
This year’s Australian GP winner said the team’s set-up was “not very compromised but a little bit,” which no doubt harmed him during qualifying in Holland, en route to a Q2 exit.
Despite fighting through to finish fifth in Sunday’s GP, Sainz admitted that Lando Norris’ dominant victory, 22s clear of the rest of the field, was cause for concern.
“It’s depressing for all, not just for Ferrari,” he said.
“I guess at least we’re not behind the Red Bull….also Red Bull and Mercedes.”
Ferrari surprised many on Sunday, with Sainz’s team-mate Charles Leclerc finishing on the podium from sixth on the grid.
Sainz too charged forward, starting 10th and finishing fifth, beating Sergio Perez and both Mercedes drivers in what was an impressive race.
“We managed to pass a Red Bull today, actually caught up with a McLaren during the race,” Sainz added, noting his 4.8s deficit to Oscar Piastri.
“Lando must have done a really solid weekend. We have to give praise for that, Oscar is P4 so it’s not like only McLaren was in a different league, I think Lando must have done a very solid weekend.”
With an impressive turnaround from Saturday to Sunday at Zandvoort, perhaps Ferrari’s upgrades will be the answer to further progress at Monza.
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