The primary storyline when the grid arrived in Sin Metropolis for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was the battle for the Formulation 1 Drivers’ Championship. With Max Verstappen on the cusp of clinching his fourth consecutive title, the principle theme of the week has been whether or not he can fend off Lando Norris in that conflict, or if the McLaren driver can maintain his title hopes alive for at the least yet another week.
To not be outdone nonetheless is the three-way battle between McLaren, Ferrari, and Crimson Bull for the Constructors’ Championship. For the time being McLaren holds a 36-point lead over Ferrari, with Crimson Bull sitting 49 factors behind McLaren in third. However with Carlos Sainz Jr. beginning second later tonight within the Las Vegas Grand Prix — and teammate Charles Leclerc beginning fourth — the Ferrari duo is beginning forward of each Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Which supplies Ferrari an amazing alternative later tonight to shave into McLaren’s lead.
Talking after qualifying within the FIA Press Convention, Sainz pointed to that chance and put it within the context of the Qatar Grand Prix, which Ferrari fears won’t swimsuit the SF-24.
“Yeah, I’m a bit apprehensive about Qatar as a result of when you see Flip 1 and Flip 3, it’s precisely the kind of nook you could have in Qatar. Fourth, fifth gear, lengthy mixed, which is precisely the place we’ve been struggling,” started Sainz Friday night time. “And simply in that sector in the present day to the [Mercedes], we had been three tenths off. So when you maintain including these corners up, it could possibly be a tricky one for us in Qatar.
“So tomorrow is an efficient alternative to get factors as a result of we’d lose them in Qatar. So, yeah, I believe we’re going to enter the race making an attempt to win as a result of that’s what we have to goal. Additionally understanding McLaren is behind and with the 2 automobiles making an attempt to get the utmost factors potential as a result of we all know with a purpose to beat McLaren, we’re most likely going to undergo a weekend in Qatar the place we’re additionally shedding factors. So we want to ensure we acquire them and understanding that, yeah, there are 30 one thing factors forward. That’s rather a lot.”
Sainz additionally made it clear that for him and Leclerc, the Constructors’ Championship is the objective.
“I believe we’re each the primary one interested by successful the Constructors’. I’m not going to lie,” declared Sainz. “I believe we’re each very motivated to take action, and we’re collaborating with one another greater than ever earlier than, additionally as a result of I’m very far off him within the championship with the 2 or three zeros that I had this season.
“And regardless that I’m driving nicely, I believe there’s not private battles for the Drivers’ Championship happening. And because of this now we have a typical curiosity of clinching the Constructors’ as a result of we each have that left for us within the within the championship, and we’re collaborating greater than ever earlier than, as I mentioned, and cooperating as a lot as we will,” added Sainz. “And yeah, we are going to go into tomorrow understanding that that’s the primary precedence.”
Time will inform if Ferrari can maximize their alternative within the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
