Carlos Sainz Jnr feared he had ruined his final qualifying lap with a mistake and had to “risk a lot” in the final sector to secure third on the grid for the Italian Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver described how he thought his chances of securing a top five grid position had been lost after he made a mistake at the first Lesmo during his final run.“On the last lap I nearly messed up,” says Sainz. “I had a big moment in the first Lesmo and I nearly lost it. From that point on I had to drive on the edge.
“I’m actually shaking a bit, because I really had to go for it through Ascari and Parabolica.”
Sainz secured a career-best starting position of third on the grid for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix after McLaren had looked strong around the Monza circuit throughout practice.
“I felt like I nailed Q1 and Q2, but on the first run in Q3, I didn’t quite nail it,” says Sainz. “The lap didn’t start very well, so I needed some very strong final corners. I really went for it. I risked a lot and it paid off. As you can see, after the dive I did into Ascari, I was a bit like ‘woah, that was way too late’.
“I’ve been feeling very strong since the start of qualifying, since Q1. I managed to get through Q1 with only one set of tyres with a very strong lap. And from there I was just chipping away and trying to to put a 1’19.6 on the board, which I knew would’ve given me a top five position.”
Sainz’s team mate Lando Norris will start sixth on the grid in the sister McLaren, marking the team’s best qualifying performance of the season so far.
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Yaru (@yaru)
5th September 2020, 15:46
Hopefully he will get to start the car at least.
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
5th September 2020, 15:52
It was a remarkable lap. Although I don’t expect McLaren to fight for the podium on merit yet, anything can happen in the first few corners, especially with a quicker car in the race trim (Verstappen) in fifth.
abananasplitz
5th September 2020, 18:40
well with party mode banned they are 3rd on the grid, i dont think anyone expected that, so chances are good for a podium, and im not sure the RB is quicker anymore.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
5th September 2020, 20:18
@pironitheprovocateur It was remarkable wasn’t it. A miracle on wheels. Actually McLaren looked great in Friday and their car has worked well at these types of tracks.
These lines don’t stick when you’re not Alonso. I wonder what a top driver would achieve on this car. Zak must be pretty happy he is getting Ricciardo
Balue (@balue)
5th September 2020, 17:58
Risking a lot seems to be his MO as he can just as well mess up qually as do a great lap like here. I guess it comes from starting out in a lower ranked team and trying to get the attention, as people look for standout performances, don’t they. It wonder if he is able to change to a more reliable way of qualifying when the team depends on him delivering regular points at Ferrari.
Balue (@balue)
5th September 2020, 17:58
*I
Blaize Falconberger (@)
5th September 2020, 18:51
I’m sure a lot of it is experience… the more practice he gets the better he will get…
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
5th September 2020, 19:52
@balue Agreed, he was like that in STR too, he’d be close to Max and then fall back in the race, often about a pitstop down on his team mate.
Tony Mansell
6th September 2020, 10:09
There’s me thinking they all left nothing on the table on every qually lap. If you’re not getting out of the car having extracted everything you no longer a racing driver .