the spanish pilot Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), which was third in the Miami Grand Prix, the fifth of the Formula One World ChampionshipHe said this Sunday that he does not feel “relief” to return to the podiumbut rather it was “necessary” after two races in which he could not finish the test.
Sainz, who had already been second in Bahrain and third in Saudi Arabia, added his ninth podium since running in the queen categoryseven of them with ferrariafter having to leave in Australia and Italy in the last month.
After the Miami Grand Prix dispute, Sainz is fifth in the general classification, with 53 points, still far from the 104 with which his teammate leads the World Cupthe Monegasque charles leclerc, and the 85 of Max Verstappen and the 66 of the Mexican Sergio ‘Checo’ Perezboth Red Bull drivers, who occupy the third and fourth places, respectively.
At a press conference after the race he acknowledged that this Sunday “paid the price” of not being able to be 100% physically after the “strong accident” on Friday in the second free practice session.
The man from Madrid started from second place on the grid, but he was overtaken by the Dutchman Verstappen -last world champion- in the first corner and from that moment he held third position without much trouble until the safety car came out and compressed the race and he had to deal with the Mexican from Red Bull for the last few laps.
?? P3! Great to be back on the podium after two tough races. Today’s has been hard; my neck was not 100% yet and it has limited me a bit. Defending myself against Checo with his new means has been very complicated. Now to the home GP!
–#Carlossainz pic.twitter.com/k3cD7e7std
– Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) May 8, 2022
highlighted the “good job” done in defending third placewhen the Mexican tried to overtake him with less than ten laps to go.
“It was a tough defense, but successful,” he congratulated after decided not to take advantage of the presence of the safety car to change the tires because there were only 10 or 12 laps remaining and he wanted to guarantee that he would maintain the lead position over ‘Checo’.
Miami International Speedwaybuilt expressly for this occasion around the Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play the NFL -the professional American football league- at home, hosted this Sunday the fifth raceand received criticism from the drivers for the state of the asphalt and the design of the ‘chicane’.
For the coming year, Sainz recommended the organization to do a “better job with the asphalt” and go for a better ‘corner combination’, because the current ‘chicane’ feels ‘unnatural’ for cars as wide and heavy as the ‘new’ Formula One.
The sixth race of the Formula One World Championship will be held on May 22 next. It will be the Spanish Grand Prixwhich will be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.