Sainz looks back on near-victory: "That race was impossible to win"

New Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has admitted he doesn't mind the missed victory at Monza in his 2020 season. During the Italian GP the Spanish driver could not outpace Pierre Gasly, who secured his first Formula 1 victory that weekend. 

In an interview with the Dutch Telegraaf, Sainz looks back on the race in Monza, and the taste that the memory of this race now brings to his mouth. "I'm still proud of what I did that weekend," said Sainz. "I missed the win by half a second. The red flag situation was not to my advantage, but I think I can be proud of how I handled it."

Sainz continued: "If you analyse the race, I think it was almost impossible to win. That's why I have especially good memories of that weekend." In the middle of a chaotic weekend for the top teams, including a 10 second penalty for Lewis Hamilton, both Sainz and Gasly managed to position themselves at the front of the grid, and a long battle for victory followed. During the last few laps of the race Sainz gradually got closer to the leading Frenchman, but it wasn't enough to make the deciding difference at the end. 

Ferrari magic

After a two-year stint at McLaren, Sainz will for the Scuderia. Although aware of Ferrari's bad season, Sainz argued that being allowed to race in Ferrari red brings a certain magic.

"The name Ferrari, the brand, has something magical about it. It gives such a special feeling to be allowed to defend that red colour."