Sainz sees Red Bull as favourites in Japan: 'We need few tenths'

Carlos Sainz was over the moon after the Australian Grand Prix. With his Ferrari, the Spaniard managed to break Red Bull Racing's hegemony in Melbourne. One week is not the other, as the Suzuka circuit is not remotely like the Melbourne track. Sainz, therefore, in the run-up to the Japanese Grand Prix, certainly does not want to say that Ferrari will go into the race as favourites. On the contrary, according to him, another team is the main candidate for victory.

"I think it's true to say that in Australia we look very strong, but I think normally in these cases you just need to get the average of the first three races," Sainz stated, concluding, "and I think the average is, we're still a couple of tenths off the Red Bull, and we need probably an upgrade, especially in tracks like Suzuka, to fight them."

In recent seasons, Ferrari has struggled at Suzuka, with its super-fast corners. Sainz thus sees Red Bull as the big favourite for Sunday's race, but neither does the three-time race winner throw in the towel in advance: "I think the job that the team has done this year is extremely good, because the car is a very good step forward. It's just we need more of the same, if we want to go for the wins in tracks like maybe Japan."

No updates for Ferrari at Suzuka

While several teams have brought updates, Ferrari will enter Suzuka with the same car as in Melbourne. "There is no big upgrade coming here. We have, I think, a very strong thing in the car at the rear, but it will come later in the season, and I hope that is another good step in the same direction," Sainz said.