In a thrilling showdown towards the end of the race, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz found himself locked in combat with the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. The question on everyone’s mind: Could Sainz have achieved more?
As the race unfolded, a pivotal moment occurred on Lap 37 when Sainz chose not to pit, unlike his teammate Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. It didn’t take long for Sainz to realize the impact of this decision, as he radioed to his team, “I guess we’ve been undercut.”
Sainz eventually made his second and final pit stop on Lap 39. While he managed to pass one Mercedes, George Russell, his final position was P6. Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line at P4, with Hamilton settling at P5.
Reflecting on the race, Sainz expressed, “Obviously, the undercut cost us a position with Lewis. We had a strong pace today with good tire degradation. However, it seems the team decided to prioritize protecting Charles’ position. While it would have been exciting to defend, the team’s interests come first, and I played a sacrificial role in a way.”
Sainz credited his good start and strong pace but acknowledged his inability to regain his position against Lewis Hamilton. Despite George Russell’s efforts to convince Mercedes to let him stay ahead of Hamilton while Sainz closed in, Russell eventually yielded to the team’s demand, allowing Hamilton through.
“In the closing laps, overtaking proved quite challenging,” Sainz commented regarding his pursuit of Hamilton. “Charles struggled to pass Russell, and I was in Hamilton’s dirty air with similar tire age. Passing was always going to be tough, but at least I managed to overtake George, and we had a spirited battle.”
The race not only showcased Sainz’s tenacity but also the strategic decisions made by the teams. Ferrari managed to narrow the gap to Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship, reducing Mercedes’ lead to a mere 20 points. This signifies Ferrari’s strong determination to secure the second spot in the standings.
