Sainz did not expect gap to Red Bull: 'Tough to handle'

Ferrari is having a disappointing 2023 so far. After a hopeful season in 2022, where the Scuderia returned to the top, at least the same was expected for 2023, but after five races this year Ferrari is only on one podium. Carlos Sainz argues that this year is more difficult than any other.

There were high hopes for Ferrari in 2023, but the Italian team has yet to live up to them. The Scuderia was only on 26 points after three races. In the fourth in Azerbaijan, there suddenly seemed to be much more speed in the SF-23, as Charles Leclerc managed to put his Ferrari on pole twice in Baku. However, Ferrari seemed to be back to square one in Miami, finishing fifth and seventh in the race.

Sainz on Ferrari in 2023

Sainz states to The Race that Ferrari itself did not see the disappointing performance coming either. "It’s been tougher than any other year. I felt like 2022 was a bit of a comeback finally to the top for Ferrari. And I feel like we all expected to at least be fighting at a similar level. Not only me, but the whole team had this hope, this expectation."

Gap with Red Bull

Ferrari is performing disappointingly in 2023, while their 2022 rival, Red Bull Racing, is actually performing incredibly well this season. In qualifying, Ferrari is still fairly close to Red Bull, but in racing, the Austrian team suddenly has a huge advantage. "Suddenly finding yourself more than half a second adrift from the Red Bull was tough to handle," says the Ferrari driver.