Carlos Sainz explained why he struggled so much in the early moments of the Australian Grand Prix until having a driver mistake that knocked him out.
After retiring from the race early due to a racing mistake, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was left to watch his colleague Charles Leclerc win the Australian Grand Prix.
Sainz’s weekend went downhill fast to worse when he bogged down when the race got underway after an unfortunate-timed red flag spoiled his first effort in Q3 and an error scuppered his last try.
Sainz was trying to claw his way back to the front of the field when he carried too much power into the high-speed chicane on Lap 3. He was fortunate to avoid getting hit by an opponent after losing control of the grass and coming to a stop in the gravel facing the wrong way.
While he climbed out, the Safety Car was deployed, and the only damage he sustained was to his pride.
Sainz’s steering wheel woes
After the race, a dejected Sainz said that he thought he was beginning on the back foot owing to a steering wheel adjustment just before the lights went out.
“We had another problem with the steering wheel with some switches not working,” Sainz told Viaplay after the race.
“We had to change the steering wheel, but the steering wheel was not well-positioned for the start and it caused me [to go into] anti-stall twice because of this.”
As a consequence, in an attempt to make up for the poor start, Sainz overstepped the limitations of grip and held his hands up for his racing error.
“Obviously, [starting on] the back foot with the Hard [tyre], [I was] trying to risk, trying to make a comeback, I misjudged the grip and I made a mistake – a driver mistake, which I haven’t done in a while,” he admitted.
“[It] definitely has cost me a lot this weekend.
“[The] conclusion [is] we just need to be more perfect, both from my side and from our team, and make sure that we are in the fight next time.”
Below are some of the most well-known FORMULA 1 drivers’ apparels, all of which are available at reasonable costs. Visit our link now if you are interested in the racing clothing collection:
Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, F1, F1 2022, Ferrari, Formula 1, Grand Prix
