Sainz on F1 winter break: 'My body wanted to go racing again'

Carlos Sainz has enjoyed the long winter break, but is now eager to start again. Ahead of the launch of the SF-23, the Ferrari driver spoke about how he is preparing for the new Formula 1 season as best he can.

Sainz ready for new F1 season

Before the curtain was pulled back on the new Ferrari car, Sainz spoke about the past winter period. It was longer than he was used to since joining the team. "It's been a long winter for us because we have never finished the season as early as November. So we had a full December to debrief the year and go on holiday," the Spaniard said.

However, a month's rest was long enough and preparations began. "On the 1st of January, my body was asking to go racing again. A lot of preparation, a lot of time spent in Italy training and spending time with my engineers. We did a test here with an old car," he added. 

In late January, he recorded his first kilometres of the year during a test run at Fiorano. This was done in the SF-21, the same car Sainz was introduced to when he joined the team. That also helped in the preparation for the new season: "I think we are as prepared as we can be, and as fully charged as we can be," Sainz concluded.