Sainz warns Red Bull in Monaco: 'We're on equal terms'

However, this weekend is the Monaco Grand Prix. In the settings of the principality, it all comes down to qualifying on Saturday, and it could be anyone who finds the extra pace and takes the added risk to find pole position on the iconic streets of Monte Carlo.

Sainz says 'any of the top teams' can take victory

Carlos Sainz has had successful times in Monaco. He has yet to taste victory, but the Spaniard has scored points every single time he has raced on the street circuit. Now, with the top three teams of Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari all battling it out, Sainz believes it could be anybody who snatches pole in qualifying.

"Seeing it from a very honest perspective, I think any of the top teams right now can win Monaco," proclaimed the Spaniard, speaking in the paddock to the media, including GPblog. "I think Monaco is such a special weekend, such a special track that it just requires a bit of a better out lap, a clean qualifying lap for you to become the Monaco race winner. So I think between Red Bull, McLaren and us, I think we are going to be very tight, we start this weekend on equal terms."

Sainz acknowledges that the new upgrades may not improve the Ferrari around Monaco, but he knows what is needed from his team to extract everything out of the SF-24. "It's going to be all about who adapts their car better to these streets. Low speed hasn't been our strength this year, so I'm a bit more cautious on that front. Qualifying lap hasn't been our strength this year and we know how important Monaco is, that's why maybe lowering expectations is a bit of my job now. This doesn't mean that we are not targeting a win. I think we are targeting to win here this weekend and we're going to do everything we can to try to nail the out lap, try to nail the Q3 lap and nail the strategy on the race"