The primary storyline when the grid arrived in Sin Metropolis for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was the battle for the Method 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 hold his title hopes alive for no less than yet another week.
To not be outdone nevertheless is the three-way battle between McLaren, Ferrari, and Crimson Bull for the Constructors’ Championship. In the meanwhile 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 incredible 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 go well with the SF-24.
“Yeah, I’m a bit anxious about Qatar as a result of in case you see Flip 1 and Flip 3, it’s precisely the kind of nook you may have in Qatar. Fourth, fifth gear, lengthy mixed, which is strictly the place we’ve been struggling,” started Sainz Friday evening. “And simply in that sector right now to the [Mercedes], we have been three tenths off. So in case you hold including these corners up, it may very well 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 attempting to win as a result of that’s what we have to goal. Additionally realizing McLaren is behind and with the 2 vehicles attempting to get the utmost factors doable as a result of we all know with a view to beat McLaren, we’re most likely going to undergo a weekend in Qatar the place we’re additionally shedding factors. So we’d like to verify we acquire them and realizing 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 fascinated by profitable 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 despite the fact that I’m driving properly, I believe there’s not private battles for the Drivers’ Championship occurring. And which means 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 are able to,” added Sainz. “And yeah, we are going to go into tomorrow realizing that that’s the primary precedence.”
Time will inform if Ferrari can maximize their alternative within the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
