Carlos Sainz emerges as Ferrari's Red Bull slayer in 2023 Formula 1 season

It appeared impossible for any team to halt Red Bull's juggernaut with their streak of 15 consecutive victories. However, Sainz, a former Red Bull Junior Driver, emerged as the unlikely hero to break this formidable run.

Sainz's triumph in Singapore last month, which marked only his second Grand Prix victory, was the culmination of meticulous preparation and dedication. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur commended Sainz's newfound form, stating that he had "stepped up" in response to his podium finish at Monza.

When questioned about his confidence for the remainder of the 2023 season, Sainz expressed, "I'm feeling very well with the car and I'm driving very good, probably the best since I've been a Ferrari driver and finally I'm extracting my full potential."

To comprehend Ferrari's recent resurgence, one must rewind to the Zandvoort race, where the team conducted extensive setup work to unravel the mysteries of the 'peaky' SF-23 on high-downforce circuits. Both Sainz and Leclerc had expressed concerns about the car's unpredictability in high-speed corners, hindering their race performance.

Through a careful compromise between aero balance and understeer issues, the team found a setup sweet spot that capitalized on the SF-23's strengths. Sainz's meticulous approach and collaboration with his engineers played a pivotal role in perfecting his race weekend strategy.

Sainz elaborated, "Before the summer break, there was this already decent feeling with everything. I just sat down with my engineers in the summer break and we said, 'Okay, what can we do to start putting the whole weekend together?'"

While Ferrari have made significant progress, they are yet to consistently challenge Red Bull, as evidenced by their recent performance at Suzuka. Despite concerns about tire degradation, Sainz opted to stay out, ultimately losing out to Lewis Hamilton due to the undercut.

Sainz's surge in form has also placed pressure on his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who faced a challenging start to the season marked by mistakes. Leclerc acknowledged Sainz's exceptional performance, stating, "Carlos in Monza and Singapore has been completely on it. He's been very, very strong."

Leclerc added, "It's great to have him on such good form because it pushes me to understand my driving style better and adapt it to the car. I'm not completely comfortable with the car at the moment, [it's] a bit too much understeer for my liking."

Currently trailing Sainz by 15 points in the Drivers' Championship, Leclerc aims to bridge the gap while Ferrari strives to close the 20-point deficit to Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship.

As tensions simmer at Mercedes, the combination of Sainz's form and Leclerc's determination to match him could position Ferrari to finish ahead of the Silver Arrows. Furthermore, Sainz's resurgence presents an opportunity to establish himself as Ferrari's number one driver, paving the way for their challenge against Red Bull in 2024.

The upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, slated for October 6-8, promises to add more excitement to the 2023 Formula 1 season. 

The Losail International Circuit, located just outside Doha, will host the 17th race of the season, where Sainz and Ferrari will aim to continue their impressive form and challenge Red Bull's dominance.

 

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