Sainz: F1 needs 'at least half the field' in podium fight
Carlos Sainz believes Formula 1 needs to find a way to ensure "at least half of the field" has a chance to fight for podium finishes
Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull have locked out the podium in 10 out of 11 Formula 1 races in 2017 so far, with Lance Stroll's shock third-place finish for Williams in a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix the only exception.
Toro Rosso driver Sainz admitted earlier in the season he felt dismay at the gap between the top teams and the midfield, and addressing the competitive imbalance is one of new owner Liberty's main priorities.
Sainz told Autosport: "I believe in equality, a lot more equality.
"I believe Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, they need to keep winning the championship. But I believe it should be a bit more exciting.
"It should include at least half of the field in a possible, potential podium battle.
"At the moment it's not happening. There's no chance. None of the midfield teams can do a podium under normal circumstances."
Sainz is in his third year with Toro Rosso, and has amassed 99 points since his 2015 grand prix debut - but is yet to finish higher than sixth.
Toro Rosso has never been more than a regular fixture in the F1 midfield, although it is a race-winning team thanks to Sebastian Vettel's 2008 Italian GP victory, which remains the only podium in its 12-year history.
Sainz continued: "I believe if you do a perfect weekend, like for example I did in Monaco [where Sainz finished sixth], I should have a chance of scoring a podium, if I've done everything perfect.
"[Romain] Grosjean in Austria did a very good weekend [for Haas] and still finished P6. I believe there should be a bit more opportunities to shine for the midfield teams that at the moment we don't have."
Asked whether the field could be bunched up using a budget cap, Sainz said: "I don't know. I don't understand about politics so I'm not going to include myself in this discussion.
"But I believe they need to find something, a solution, to bring lap times closer between all 10 teams."
Previous article
Mercedes/Ferrari will not tempt Verstappen from Red Bull – Horner
Next article
The unexpected Senna honour Hamilton's set to beat
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
Who should Alfa Romeo sign for 2022's F1 season?
OPINION: With Valtteri Bottas already signed up for 2022, all eyes are on the race for the second seat at Alfa Romeo next year. Antonio Giovinazzi is the current incumbent, but faces a tough competition from appealing short and long-term prospects
The "forced break" that was key to Ricciardo's Monza excellence
OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo has long been considered one of Formula 1’s elite drivers. But his struggles at McLaren since switching from Renault for 2021 have been painful to watch at times. Yet he’s recovered to banish those memories with a famous Monza win – built on a critically important foundation
How Verstappen is ruining his F1 title battle with Hamilton
OPINION: The Italian GP clash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen followed a running theme in the 2021 Formula 1 title fight. Their close-quarters battles have often resulted in contact - and although Hamilton has shown a willingness to back off, Verstappen must learn to temper his aggression
Italian Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Two drivers produced maximum-score performances as, for the second year in a row, Monza threw up an unpredictable result that left several others ruing what might have been
Why Ricciardo was set for Monza F1 triumph even without Verstappen/Hamilton crash
The clash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton was the major flashpoint the 2021 Italian Grand Prix will be remembered for. Yet by this point, race leader Daniel Ricciardo had already done the hard work that would put him in position to end his and McLaren's lengthy win droughts, on a memorable afternoon in Monza
Why Italian GP success is on for McLaren even if Verstappen dominates
For the second time in 2021, McLaren will line up for the start of a grand prix from the first row. It knows it has the chance of “glory” if things go well for Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris at the start of the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, but even if they just maintain their grid positions, signs from the rest of the Monza weekend suggest success is very possible for Formula 1’s other orange army
The F1 media favourite who lifted a broken Lotus
Graham Hill was nearly 30 when he made his Formula 1 debut. NIGEL ROEBUCK examines the life of a gifted racer whose talismanic personality defined an era
