Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz revealed that he is ready to dethrone defending champion Max Verstappen in 2022.
Sainz had a stellar first season with Ferrari, exceeding all expectation and finishing P5 in the Drivers’ Championship. He beat his established teammate Charles Leclerc as the icing on the cake as well.
With his efforts, Ferrari ended up taking P3 in the Constructors’ Championship, beating rivals McLaren to it in the second half of the season. The Spaniard is not satisfied, however, and wants to make the leap from the midfield into the top spot.
Sainz revealed that he is ready to dethrone Verstappen if Ferrari could back him up with a car as good as the champion’s.
“Regarding Ferrari in 2022, it is very difficult to know where we are going to be next year,” he told AS.
“But I think the team has grown a lot and during the season we became a much stronger team in terms of pit stops, strategy, tyres, the way to execute on weekends.
“If the car is good this year, we are ready.”
All to play for
“I have to improve in everything,” the former McLaren driver noted.
“As a driver, I am never one hundred percent satisfied with any of my facets. I think they all have room for improvement.
“Every year I go into winter knowing that I have to improve in all those areas if I want to continue my progression as a driver and to be a F1 World Champion.
“What I do know is as a driver I want to fight for a World Championship and that I am prepared for what comes next season, it could be that there is a very close F1 or there might be someone who hits the button and dominates.”
Read more: Sainz responds to media calling him a hard worker – “I think it’s mostly talent”