P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz will start the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race from fourth on the grid, one place ahead of Charles Leclerc in the sister car.
Carlos Sainz explained how Max Verstappen unintentionally hindered Ferrari during sprint qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race. Despite a strong practice session, both Sainz and teammate Charles Leclerc underperformed in sprint qualifying, securing fourth and fifth on the grid behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. Leclerc mentioned that Ferrari was “coming back to reality” after the promising practice pace, with Sainz facing challenges in SQ3, including dealing with Verstappen’s slower Red Bull in the session. Sainz described the difficulties of following Verstappen due to dirty air, an off car balance with understeer on medium tires, and the pressure of needing a clean lap for P4. Sainz emphasized the unpredictability of practice pace and cautioned against overanalyzing it due to varying fuel loads and engine modes among competitors, acknowledging Ferrari’s struggle to maximize their performance in sprint qualifying. Despite difficulties with understeer during the lap, Sainz managed to secure a decent grid position for the race.
