Sainz ‘wasn’t pushing that hard’ before Imola F1 qualifying crash
Carlos Sainz felt he wasn’t pushing hard prior to his Imola Formula 1 qualifying crash which he fears will cost him “quite a lot” through the rest of the weekend.
Ferrari driver Sainz crashed out early in the second stage of qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Friday, losing control at the exit of Rivazza after running over the kerb on the outside of the corner.
Sainz had been trying to improve his initial lap time before the incoming rain arrived and while his effort was enough to get him through to Q3, he was unable to take part in the session.
It means Sainz will start tomorrow’s 21-lap sprint race from 10th place, while team-mate Charles Leclerc lines up on the front row after narrowly losing out to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the fight for pole.
Sainz explained that he was surprised to lose the car in the fashion that he did, but took full blame for the mistake.
"The target was to put a banker lap in, knowing that the rain was going to come,” Sainz said.
“Honestly I knew I was P1, P2 the whole session, and I wasn’t pushing really that hard at all. The car surprised me in that corner, [and] I missed it.
“It’s clear that the track conditions are very tough out there, and I did a driver mistake that is going to cost me quite a lot going into the weekend.
“But at least thinking positively, I will have sprint quali and the race to recover.”
Marshals load the car of Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari F1-75, onto a truck
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sainz acknowledged the damage on his car “looked bad” after the shunt and that it was “not going to be easy for the guys tonight” to get the repairs completed.
"So big apologies to them for giving them the extra work, and now it’s time to focus on tomorrow,” he added.
The setback comes after Sainz spun out of the Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago while trying to recover from a difficult qualifying session that left him ninth on the grid.
The incident has prompted Ferrari to give him a new engine as a precaution this weekend.
Sainz said the target at Imola was now “to move forward and try and rescue some good points” over the sprint race and grand prix.
PLUS: Can Ferrari maintain its F1 title push?
“The weekend is not over yet, it’s only Friday, so there’s plenty of time,” Sainz said.
“But obviously it hurts because we should have been easy through to Q3, and in the wet, you never know what can happen.”
Related video
Norris "could have gotten Leclerc" for Imola F1 front row
Unhappy Leclerc rues run choices in Imola F1 qualifying
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1? Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin
How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin
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: Martin cuts Bagnaia's points lead with sprint win
MotoGP Japanese GP: Martin cuts Bagnaia's points lead with sprint win MotoGP Japanese GP: Martin cuts Bagnaia's points lead with sprint win
MotoGP Japanese GP: Martin smashes lap record for pole
MotoGP Japanese GP: Martin smashes lap record for pole MotoGP Japanese GP: Martin smashes lap record for pole
Honda selects replacement for axed MotoGP technical boss Kokubu
Honda selects replacement for axed MotoGP technical boss Kokubu Honda selects replacement for axed MotoGP technical boss Kokubu
Loubet explains frightening WRC Rally Chile exit
Loubet explains frightening WRC Rally Chile exit Loubet explains frightening WRC Rally Chile exit
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
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
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.