Sainz "left nothing on the table" for F1 Spanish GP front-row slot
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz says he "left nothing on the table" as he gifted his home fans a front-row start for Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
Ferrari's qualifying bid was derailed by team-mate Charles Leclerc's undiagnosed car issue that got the Monegasque driver eliminated in Q1 for the first time this season.
But in front of his Spanish fans, Sainz had a much stronger afternoon by taking second place behind the untouchable Red Bull of world champion Max Verstappen.
"It was very good today, I felt like I was driving very well," Sainz said about his best qualifying result of the 2023 F1 season.
"It's always one tenth here, one tenth there. But I was pushing, I didn't leave anything on the table today. I was pushing flat out.
"It was very tight even with McLaren, with Alpine, with Mercedes, Aston Martin; we were all in the same group basically this weekend. So, I think P2 is as far as I could make it today, and that [1m]12.7s is a pretty good lap."
Sainz said the low-grip conditions after earlier rain showers made Saturday "one of the trickiest" qualifying sessions ever at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The conditions caught several of his rivals out.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23
Photo by: Jake Grant / Motorsport Images
Sainz ended up conceding 0.462s to Verstappen but was crucially less than one tenth ahead of surprise third Lando Norris in the first McLaren, the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
"I needed [a great lap] because it was super tight," 28-year-old Sainz added. "It was very, very tricky conditions out there today.
"Even getting through Q1, Q2 without any issues and putting a good lap in, even with only one set in Q3 was probably one of the most tricky qualifying [sessions] I've had here in Barcelona in terms of conditions.
"But we did it and I think we're in the best possible position going into tomorrow. And now we can focus on trying to get that podium tomorrow."
Team-mate Leclerc will start Sunday's grand prix from 19th on the grid after reporting weird behaviour from his Ferrari through Barcelona's left-hand corners.
Leclerc has 'no answer' after Q1 exit in F1 Spanish GP qualifying
Russell "not aware" of Hamilton in Spanish GP F1 qualifying clash
Horner: Red Bull must try to keep "riding the wave" of 2023 F1 success
Horner: Red Bull must try to keep "riding the wave" of 2023 F1 success Horner: Red Bull must try to keep "riding the wave" of 2023 F1 success
Horner: Perez still held back by lack of confidence in F1's high speed corners
Horner: Perez still held back by lack of confidence in F1's high speed corners Horner: Perez still held back by lack of confidence in F1's high speed corners
The art of compromise behind an "emotionally draining" F1 job
The art of compromise behind an "emotionally draining" F1 job The art of compromise behind an "emotionally draining" F1 job
Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP
Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP
Sainz: No regrets after U-turn on failed Ferrari F1 car set-up gamble
Sainz: No regrets after U-turn on failed Ferrari F1 car set-up gamble Sainz: No regrets after U-turn on failed Ferrari F1 car set-up gamble
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The new F1 floor that helped Ferrari beat Mercedes in Japan
The new F1 floor that helped Ferrari beat Mercedes in Japan The new F1 floor that helped Ferrari beat Mercedes in Japan
Vasseur: Ferrari can’t "postpone the fight" with Mercedes to 2024 F1 season
Vasseur: Ferrari can’t "postpone the fight" with Mercedes to 2024 F1 season Vasseur: Ferrari can’t "postpone the fight" with Mercedes to 2024 F1 season
The wider F1 significance of Ferrari's Monza affirmation
The wider F1 significance of Ferrari's Monza affirmation The wider F1 significance of Ferrari's Monza affirmation
MotoGP Japanese GP: Chantra, Masia take Moto2 and Moto3 wins
MotoGP Japanese GP: Chantra, Masia take Moto2 and Moto3 wins MotoGP Japanese GP: Chantra, Masia take Moto2 and Moto3 wins
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck” M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.