Sainz confident in Vasseur: 'He's going to do well'

Carlos Sainz has expressed his confidence in Frederic Vasseur. In an interview with Marca the Spaniard said he is looking forward to working with Vasseur, although he does try to temper expectations somewhat.

Sainz and Vasseur are no strangers. In 2016, Vasseur was still team boss of Renault and started negotiations with Sainz to come to the French team. Although the negotiations were successful, the two men never worked together: at the end of 2016, Vasseur left Renault after disagreements with the rest of the organisation, and Sainz only joined the team at the end of 2017.

Seven years after those negotiations, Vasseur and Sainz will finally become part of the same team after all. There has been much speculation in recent days that the choice of Vasseur will work out better for Charles Leclerc than Sainz since Vasseur was already Leclerc's team boss at Sauber in 2018. Sainz, however, wants to know nothing of that: "I trust Fred, I know him, I have always had good contact with him," the Spaniard explained. "We negotiated back then at Renault. Yesterday I called him and had my first contact with him as a Ferrari driver. I'm sure he will do well."

'This is going to take time'

The position of team boss at Ferrari will not be an easy task for Vasseur. Ferrari's last title is now 15 years old and the team is desperate for new success. Although Sainz has confidence in his new team boss, he does want to make it clear that the tide will not turn overnight.

"We have to give him time," Sainz explained. "Ferrari is a giant of 1,200 or 1,300 people, and he has to see how everyone works and what changes are needed. That will take time. But every time a new person arrives, there is extra motivation to want to do well for him and the team will take another step forward."