The primary storyline when the grid arrived in Sin Metropolis for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was the battle for the System 1 Drivers’ Championship. With Max Verstappen on the cusp of clinching his fourth consecutive title, the primary 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 nevertheless is the three-way battle between McLaren, Ferrari, and Pink Bull for the Constructors’ Championship. In the mean time McLaren holds a 36-point lead over Ferrari, with Pink 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 swimsuit the SF-24.
“Yeah, I’m a bit fearful about Qatar as a result of for those who see Flip 1 and Flip 3, it’s precisely the kind of nook you will have in Qatar. Fourth, fifth gear, lengthy mixed, which is precisely the place we’ve been struggling,” started Sainz Friday evening. “And simply in that sector right this moment to the [Mercedes], we have been three tenths off. So for those who maintain 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 would lose them in Qatar. So, yeah, I feel we’re going to enter the race attempting to win as a result of that’s what we have to goal. Additionally understanding McLaren is behind and with the 2 automobiles attempting to get the utmost factors potential as a result of we all know as a way 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 verify 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 aim.
“I feel we’re each the primary one all for successful the Constructors’. I’m not going to lie,” declared Sainz. “I feel 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 effectively, I feel there’s not private battles for the Drivers’ Championship happening. And which means that we have now a standard 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 stated, and cooperating as a lot as we will,” added Sainz. “And yeah, we’ll 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.
