Carlos Sainz targets World Championship glory in 2023 Formula 1 season

The Spaniard secured his debut F1 victory at Silverstone in 2022 and finished fifth in the championship.

However, as he enters his third season with Ferrari, Sainz aims to take the next step and compete for the title.

"When you drive for Ferrari, the target has to be to fight for the World Championship and to try to win," Sainz said. "This is in the mind not only [of] me, [but] the whole team."

Sainz admitted that he had spent time considering how to achieve his goal of winning the title. "If you want to be World Champion, you need to be the best driver and the best team," he explained.

"What I focus on is that short-term view of what can I do? What can the team do to become a better team and the best driver on the grid?"

The Spanish driver feels more confident heading into the 2023 season than he did previously. "I feel ready for it. What matters is later on, once the season starts, how you can stay loyal and fair to your ambitions and your short-term goals."

Sainz will partner with Charles Leclerc, who signed a long-term deal with the team last December. Leclerc has finished ahead of Sainz in the championship standings in both seasons.

However, Sainz is not too concerned, focusing on the bigger picture: "I'm aware that he's a very fast driver, and he's been performing really well in the last two years, but I'm not too worried about him. I'm more worried about myself and my team."

The 2023 season begins in Bahrain from 3 to 5 March.