Carlos Sainz is yet to race for Ferrari, but he is confident he can get to terms with the car far quicker than Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel, who is a four-time world champion, spent six years at Ferrari prior to getting axed last season. Sainz was chosen as his replacement going into the 2021 season.
Sainz believes that he has adapted to the car far quicker than Vettel despite spinning around the track during pre-season testing.
He said that his adaptability is far greater given the fact that he has changed teams so often in the past.
“I, personally, have no insecurity. What I have is perhaps a lack of experience and that lack of the last point of confidence to know that in race 1, 2 and 3 I will take 100% of the potential of the car.
“Perhaps for Sebastian (Vettel) who has been in a car longer (for his many years at Ferrari), it will seem somewhat aggressive.
“But I kind of have changed teams every two years, I’m more used to going through that difficult moment.”
“Because of that shock of suddenly finding yourself with a car that has nothing to do with the one you were used to driving. You have to reset all your references. All the things that you are used to doing, all the automatisms that you have.
“It’s not insecurity, it’s being realistic, being cautious, because you don’t know what you’re going to find.
“Both with the steering wheel and with the brake, as well as with the accelerator. Reset everything, forget everything you know and start over from scratch.”
Engine troubles and a dip in form for Sebastian Vettel meant Ferrari had a forgettable 2020 season, where the team finished sixth in the constructors’ standings.
26-year-old Sainz has made it clear that his primary objective is to push Ferrari forward.
In an interview with Planet F1, he said, “There is always a balance to find between wanting to be competitive with your reference as a teammate.
“But, at the same time, especially at the moment we are going through right now at Ferrari, there is one thing that is of paramount importance and that is the team.
“I think we are both going to push flat out to make sure we can help this team to move forward. We have already started on the right foot, we are getting on well and we are having a good relationship.”
It is fair to say that Leclerc and Sainz will have a significant task on their hands in the upcoming season.
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