P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sainz thought Japan F1 podium was "not possible" until "mega" final stint
Carlos Sainz started fourth in the Suzuka race alongside Lando Norris, and momentarily led after delaying his pitstop to extend his stint on medium tyres. Despite losing track position due to undercuts, Sainz made a strong comeback with fresher hard tyres in the latter part of the race. The Spaniard initially doubted a podium finish but was surprised by his ‘mega pace’ on the hard compound, especially with changing track conditions. Sainz acknowledged the difficulty of matching his Australian GP win but was confident in Ferrari’s improved race pace compared to qualifying. He finished third, recognizing that a win was unlikely given Red Bull’s dominance on the circuit.
