Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz: two completely different tales
One of the mentioned subjects forward of the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix revolves across the difficulties Lewis Hamilton is experiencing throughout his debut season with Ferrari, the identical crew the place Carlos Sainz accomplished his last marketing campaign in crimson final 12 months earlier than transferring to Williams. Opposite to expectations, the Spaniard is now reaching noteworthy outcomes with the Grove-based crew, which struggled to attain factors only a season in the past.
Adjusting to a brand new crew
Carlos Sainz, who vacated his Ferrari seat for Lewis Hamilton, highlighted in an interview with Mundo Deportivo the true challenges even a seven-time world champion like Lewis Hamilton can face when adapting to a brand new automotive. He burdened that such difficulties ought to by no means be dismissed as mere excuses. He identified that he personally understood how complicated the method might be, having switched groups 5 instances himself, typically with little time allowed for adjustment. Carlos Sainz recalled that public expectations had been excessive—folks assumed he could be absolutely tailored by the third race. He additionally referenced Daniel Ricciardo’s transitions to Renault and McLaren, noting that each concerned intervals of adaptation. He mentioned he had skilled the identical sample at each crew he had joined, and on the time many individuals didn’t imagine it or noticed it as an excuse. Nevertheless, he believes Hamilton’s present struggles now affirm what he had been saying 5 or ten years in the past—maybe it wasn’t credible then, however now it’s.
Sainz’s driving fashion
Reflecting on his time at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz returned to the 2022 season, when he needed to adapt after a troublesome begin brought on by the brand new technical laws, which clashed together with his pure driving fashion. He emphasised that crucial factor is in the end discovering that adaptation. A driver could undergo 5 or 6 powerful months with a crew, however what issues is reaching the best degree. He felt that with sufficient expertise and energy, a driver would finally show their price. By mid-2022, Carlos Sainz had achieved pole positions at Silverstone, Austin, and Spa, and he went on to win races in 2023, reaching the extent he had aimed for. He believes the secret’s to get there—as a result of the true danger isn’t absolutely adapting to a crew or a automotive. Up to now, he considers himself fortunate to have managed to adapt to each crew he’s joined.
Lastly, Carlos Sainz additionally revealed which sort of automotive most accurately fits his driving fashion, naming those that felt most pure to him through the years. He defined {that a} little bit of luck is required when altering groups as a result of sure driving types match sure automobiles higher than others. For him, a secure automotive works greatest as a result of his pure fashion includes rotating the automotive extra in corners, producing numerous oversteer with braking and steering. If given a secure or overly secure automotive, he mentioned he might nonetheless handle it; if given a automotive with a really aggressive entrance finish, he may oversteer it an excessive amount of. Ideally, he prefers stability, however even when confronted with the aggressive entrance finish of the 2022 Ferrari—a automotive he had by no means skilled earlier than—he managed to deal with it, scoring pole positions and ending the 12 months strongly. That gave him delight and satisfaction, realizing that he might address any automotive he was given. If he receives a automotive that fits him, he’s instantly quick. If he will get the alternative, he can nonetheless adapt, and whereas it might not be his greatest model, he believes it’s nonetheless a powerful one. For instance, he recalled driving the McLaren and saying after the primary race, “I like this automotive.” That, he believes, was his greatest model in System 1. He additionally had fond reminiscences of the 2021 Ferrari, which he drastically loved driving.