Fear of Crashing in Baku Left Carlos Sainz “Mentally Stressed” Throughout Azerbaijan GP Weekend

Carlos Sainz went through a very difficult time in Baku last weekend, as he struggled to get the best out of the SF-23. Unlike his teammate Charles Leclerc who bounced back with a podium finish, Sainz could only muster a fifth-place finish after starting P4.

While Leclerc and Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur look back on what was a return to form for the Scuderia, Sainz remembers his outing at the Azerbaijan GP as a “mentally stressful” weekend. Speaking to the press after the race, Sainz admitted that he was afraid of crashing the car if he pushed too hard.

🎙️| Carlos Sainz;

“The first stint on mediums, I found a bit of pace back, but as soon as I put the hards, my struggles of the weekend reappeared, and I just had to bring home a P5.”

“I was always very on the limit of crashing or feeling like I was losing the car.”

— Ferrari News 🐎 (@FanaticsFerrari) May 1, 2023

In the opening laps, the Spaniard felt good on the medium tyres but whatever confidence he gained in that time was lost after he put on the hard tyres in his second stint. Sainz labeled the 2023 Azerbaijan GP as a very long and hard race. However, he assures fans that he will get to the bottom of the issues he faced in Baku, and make a strong return at the Miami GP next weekend.

Ferrari satisfied with Carlos Sainz finishing P5

Sainz started the 2023 Azerbaijan GP from P4, and while not many expected him to charge up the field, losing a position to the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso disappointed many. Sainz, however, felt that Alonso was going to overtake him eventually, as the 41-year-old was much faster on the day.

After losing his place to Alonso, Sainz was under threat from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in the latter half of the race. Despite the Mercedes driver’s best efforts, Sainz kept his cool under pressure and brought home 10 points for Ferrari with the P5 finish. After the race, Fred Vasseur admitted that he was satisfied with Sainz’s fifth-place finish in Azerbaijan.

🇦🇿 P5 brings home some points but I must put my hand up and admit I lacked confidence under braking and the pace wasn’t there. I look forward to a reset, as Miami is just around the corner. I can’t wait to jump in the car again and keep pushing

👉https://t.co/fXG6dZGa91

-… pic.twitter.com/OQvR4JVpTc

— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) April 30, 2023

“In Baku, it’s hard to drive without confidence,” he said to Sky Sports. “Also this format does not allow you to have time. I’m satisfied with his 5th place.”

Charles Leclerc and Sainz hoping for bigger points haul in Miami

Just days after racing in Azerbaijan, F1 drivers will find themselves racing along the streets of Miami. For the first time this season, Ferrari showed strong pace during qualifying which allowed them to grab the pole.

Heading into the Miami GP, however, Leclerc and Sainz will be hoping for their race pace to improve. After his P3 finish in Baku, Leclerc admitted that upgrades are due at the Maranello-based outfit, which should allow them to close the gap to the Red Bulls.

Leclerc’s P3 finish in Baku puts him in P6 in the constructors’ standings with teammate Sainz just one position ahead of him.