Ferrari has officially unveiled Carlos Sainz for 2021

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The legendary Italian team has revealed its pair of drivers for the next Formula 1 season

The Italian team Ferrari officially presented its pair of drivers for the 2021 Formula 1 season made up of Spaniards Carlos Sainz and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc.

Sainz he assured this Friday that he has fulfilled one of his “best dreams” by signing for The Italian team, but rejected comparisons with his father’s achievements Carlos Sainz, double world rally champion, which he considers a “pioneer” of motor sport “impossible to overcome”.

“At Fiorano I wore the red suit for the first time, I drove a car Ferrari and I did it on a mythical circuit. I did all this in one day and I will never forget it. At first I was anxious, but then the emotion left and I liked the day and what is happening, “he said. Carlos Sainz at a closed-door press conference accompanied by Leclerc, and the director, Mattia Binotto.

Carlos Sainz, the fifth Spanish pilot in history Ferrari, admitted that he dreamed of becoming a “Ferrari driver” since childhood and, despite the fact that he managed to meet his enormous challenge, he is still far from completing his professional development.

“I will never be above my father’s shadow. He is a double world champion. [de rally], something I haven’t done yet, although it’s my intention. In addition, he was a pioneer, a special driver, he scored a before and after a rally, “he said.

“It will be difficult to overcome it, even if I am part of it Ferrari and I realized one of my best dreams. My father won two world titles, I think it is impossible to beat him, “he added.

Sainz for the first time with Ferrari in some tests in Fiorano on January 27 aboard the 2018 SF71H and is optimistic about the work done since then, although he stressed that it is impossible to really know what level his team has compared to other competitors before the start of the season.

“It’s impossible to know where we are. We know what our simulations say, where we are in terms of top speed, but it’s impossible to predict where we will be until we see what our rivals have done,” he warned.

Sainz, 26, forms next to Leclerc (23) the pair of pilots in Ferrari Younger since 1968 and, despite the fact that both have a high level of competitiveness, they stressed that the first thing will be the good of the team.

“There is always a balance to be found. One wants to be competitive, but at the same time, especially at this time, we have to work for the team, we both want the team to grow. We started with the right foot, we have a good relationship, we spend long time together in Maranello, “he said.

“I trust our relationship, I’ve never had problems with a partner and I don’t see why I should have problems with Charles,” he insisted.

Sainz, who set a five-year world champion, acknowledged that it will be difficult to reach the first grand prize of the year, on March 28 in Bahrain, at 100%.

“My intention is to be at my best for the first race, but it’s really difficult to do it. It’s about experience, feelings that you gain race after race. It’s hard to say when I reach the best level. It’s better from the first Grand Prix, but that also depends on the feelings you have with the new car “, he warned.

In turn, Leclerc He acknowledged on Friday that both he and his teammate are very competitive people, but promised to separate “what happens on and off the circuit” for the good of the team.

“It’s clear we have to fight for the good of the team. Carlos wants to beat me and I want to beat him, but when we’re in the race we’ll fight carefully, we’ll try to see what we can do for the team,” he said. “The most important thing is to separate what happens on and off the circuit. Outside the car we have to work together in the car, also with strategy. Carlos is competitive, but he is here for the good of the team.”

Leclerc worked with Carlos Sainz and engineers from Ferrari looking forward to next season and was pleased with the improvements made, although before drawing conclusions, he said, it will be necessary to wait for the first races.

“We seem to be taking good steps, we’ve worked a lot with Carlos from the beginning, we’re working hard and we see improvements. Everything seems positive, but you have to see what others are doing to understand where we are. The team gives everything,” he said. .

Personal, Leclerc reported that in recent weeks it has focused on analyzing its performance from last year to try to improve.

“I’ve done a few car tests since 2018, I feel ready for the new year. I’m trying to learn, to see what my weaknesses are. I’ve been watching races in the past, to see what I can do better,” Monegasc said.

In the end, Binotto celebrated the signing of the Spaniard this Friday Carlos Sainz as a team driver and considered that last season’s results showed that the choice was correct.

“It simply came to our notice then Sainz I saw his growth in recent seasons, I saw how he grew and I was clear that he was a great rider, strong, with personality. I knew he would be a good companion for Leclerc“He said.” At the end of 2020, many people congratulated us on the decision to sign Sainz. I’m happy for our choice, last season showed that Sainz is correct for Ferrari“.

Binotto He was also very pleased with how Sainz adapted to the team despite not having much time.

“Three days of testing are few, we alternate the two drivers. We know that for Carlos it is a challenge, but every kilometer he has done is important to adapt. I must say that Carlos has grown very well, he has adapted very well “, secure. “His speed is good, we need time and we don’t expect him to be 100 percent at the beginning of the season, but I think he will be ready, close to the maximum. He is not an inexperienced driver, he is a professional and he will manage well. the situation “.

At the level of sports project, Binotto acknowledged that its engineers and mechanics are working with the main focus in the 2022 season, as the cancellation of the margin of difference with Mercedes, which dominated the last world championships, in one year is prohibitive.

“The margin accumulated last year is high and you can’t recover it in a winter. Our focus will be on developing the car 2022, it is the main goal, we will not dedicate much time to 2021. In 2022 there will be many changes and most of our efforts will be in the car of 2022 “, he concluded.

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