Sainz happy with FP1 results: 'Closer to Red Bull than I thought'

The first free practice ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix went well for Ferrari. During the qualifying laps, Red Bull was too quick for the Italian Scuderia, but during the longruns, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz looked fast. Both drivers reflect on the first day of racing at Suzuka in Japan.

Sainz over gap with Red Bull

Due to wet conditions, many drivers stayed inside during the second free practice session. Leclerc and Sainz only came out towards the end for test starts. Among other things, Sainz explained how it was that so few drivers could be found on the tarmac. The Spaniard thinks he was not far off Red Bull, he explained to F1TV.

"In FP1 we were perhaps closer to Red Bull than I had anticipated or expected, so, positive signs in terms of the progress made from five months ago to now. Still, though, in FP1 you don’t know what fuel loads and engine modes they are running but last year we were 0.8s off in qualifying and now being just 0.2s off is a good feeling," Sainz believes.

Sainz and Leclerc on Friday in Japan

"It was not an ideal Friday as we lost all of the second session due to the changing conditions. This morning in FP1 I was quite comfortable in the car, but I was looking forward to the afternoon session to continue working on the setup. The track was too wet for slicks and too dry for Intermediates, so it really made no sense to run and we decided to stay in the garage," Sainz continued.

Teammate Leclerc did not experience it very differently. "It was a mixed day. In FP1, we identified a few things we needed to work on in terms of set-up. But then, we barely ran in FP2 and so we couldn't find the answers we were looking for over a flying lap, so we will have to focus on that tomorrow morning to be ready for qualifying," the Monegasque driver told reporters after the first two sessions in Japan.