P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz scored his third podium in three races this year as he continued his strong start to the campaign in Japan.
Carlos Sainz confessed his doubts about finishing the Japanese Grand Prix on the podium despite eventually crossing the line in third place, continuing his strong performance this season with podium finishes in Bahrain and a victory in Australia. Sainz showcased rapid pace in the final stint by pitting later than his competitors and chasing down Lando Norris and team-mate Charles Leclerc. With a successful strategy, Sainz revealed concerns about the speed of a one-stop approach, given that degradation was not as severe as anticipated. Despite finding overtaking challenging, particularly at Suzuka, Sainz was satisfied with the performance of the Hard compound tire, which played a crucial role in his third-place finish. His ability to capitalize on the Hard tires’ performance and execute overtaking maneuvers contributed to his podium achievement.
