Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz: two totally different tales
Some of the mentioned subjects forward of the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix revolves across the difficulties Lewis Hamilton is experiencing throughout his debut season with Ferrari, the identical staff the place Carlos Sainz accomplished his ultimate marketing campaign in pink final 12 months earlier than transferring to Williams. Opposite to expectations, the Spaniard is now reaching noteworthy outcomes with the Grove-based staff, which struggled to attain factors only a season in the past.
Adjusting to a brand new staff
Carlos Sainz, who vacated his Ferrari seat for Lewis Hamilton, highlighted in an interview with Mundo Deportivo the actual challenges even a seven-time world champion like Lewis Hamilton can face when adapting to a brand new automotive. He careworn that such difficulties ought to by no means be dismissed as mere excuses. He identified that he personally understood how complicated the method might be, having switched groups 5 occasions himself, typically with little time allowed for adjustment. Carlos Sainz recalled that public expectations had been excessive—folks assumed he could be absolutely tailored by the third race. He additionally referenced Daniel Ricciardo’s transitions to Renault and McLaren, noting that each concerned intervals of adaptation. He stated he had skilled the identical sample at each staff he had joined, and on the time many individuals didn’t imagine it or noticed it as an excuse. Nevertheless, he believes Hamilton’s present struggles now affirm what he had been saying 5 or ten years in the past—maybe it wasn’t credible then, however now it’s.
Sainz’s driving fashion
Reflecting on his time at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz returned to the 2022 season, when he needed to adapt after a tricky begin brought on by the brand new technical laws, which clashed along with his pure driving fashion. He emphasised that crucial factor is in the end discovering that adaptation. A driver could undergo 5 – 6 robust months with a staff, however what issues is reaching the suitable degree. He felt that with sufficient expertise and energy, a driver would finally show their price. By mid-2022, Carlos Sainz had achieved pole positions at Silverstone, Austin, and Spa, and he went on to win races in 2023, reaching the extent he had aimed for. He believes the secret’s to get there—as a result of the actual threat is rarely absolutely adapting to a staff or a automotive. To this point, he considers himself fortunate to have managed to adapt to each staff he’s joined.
Lastly, Carlos Sainz additionally revealed which sort of automotive most closely fits his driving fashion, naming those that felt most pure to him over time. He defined {that a} little bit of luck is required when altering groups as a result of sure driving types match sure automobiles higher than others. For him, a steady automotive works greatest as a result of his pure fashion entails rotating the automotive extra in corners, producing plenty of oversteer with braking and steering. If given a steady or overly steady automotive, he stated he may nonetheless handle it; if given a automotive with a really aggressive entrance finish, he would possibly oversteer it an excessive amount of. Ideally, he prefers stability, however even when confronted with the aggressive entrance finish of the 2022 Ferrari—a automotive he had by no means skilled earlier than—he managed to deal with it, scoring pole positions and ending the 12 months strongly. That gave him pleasure and satisfaction, understanding that he may deal with any automotive he was given. If he receives a automotive that fits him, he’s instantly quick. If he will get the alternative, he can nonetheless adapt, and whereas it might not be his greatest model, he believes it’s nonetheless a powerful one. For instance, he recalled driving the McLaren and saying after the primary race, “I like this automotive.” That, he believes, was his greatest model in Formulation 1. He additionally had fond recollections of the 2021 Ferrari, which he vastly loved driving.