Carlos Sainz recently highlighted all the circumstances that hindered what was a "perfectly executed race" which produced an already highly ambitious result of P10 at the flag, claiming a higher points finish was possible. It was basically what could have gone wrong went wrong. It was okay, we learnt something.
- Carlos SainzAfter struggling to setup the
Williams FW47, Sainz went for a configuration he did not feel at home with. His P13 qualifying position would be overturn following his team's disqualification from the session's results. Starting the race in P18 and finishing in P10, Sainz believed more was possible.
"We've all done mistakes this weekend. I didn't do a good job in Qualifying, we changed too many things from FP3 to Qualifying and I was a bit lost," said Sainz.
"Doesn't matter because we were disqualified but we're making mistakes as a team still which is what this year is there for.
He added: "I think in a clean, normal weekend, P7, P8 was on the cards. We finished P10 so was not a big drama and our rivals didn't get a lot of points so we managed to salvage the weekend a bit."
Rebecca Donaldson and Carlos Sainz - Photo: Race Pictures
For Sainz there is nowhere to go but up, and seeing the team's evolution he pushed for more highlighting the strong recovery drive which Sainz argued survived just about every spanner the race could throw his way.
"At the same time, we need to keep getting better. Today, we executed a perfect race, I think we were the only car of the field to move forward with a midfield car, to go through 18th to 10th, when you see how little position variation there's been today I think it's definitely a good day."
"It was basically what could have gone wrong went wrong. It was okay, we learnt something. I think I tried a lot of things with the set-up and it didn't work but it was good to cross it off actually."
Sainz takes issue with F1's broadcasting
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