'We haven’t taken the right calls' - Sainz, regarding the development of their SF-24.

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Ferrari have not taken the right calls - Sainz regarding with the development of their SF-24

Carlos Sainz openly acknowledged the recent missteps in Ferrari's development of the SF-24, highlighting that the decisions made did not yield the desired outcomes. The setback came to light following an unsuccessful upgrade in Barcelona, leading the team to backtrack to a previous version of the car that was first introduced at Imola.

This unexpected turn of events forced Ferrari to reassess their strategy, opting to revert to a familiar setup in an effort to address the issues encountered with the latest modifications. The failed upgrade, notably causing handling issues such as bouncing, posed a significant challenge that needed urgent rectification.

The repercussions of these development setbacks were palpable during the British Grand Prix weekend, where Ferrari's performance fell short of expectations. Charles Leclerc's struggles saw him eliminated in Q2 and finishing in 14th place, a stark contrast to the team's ambitions. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz managed to salvage a more respectable result by qualifying seventh and crossing the finish line in fifth position.

Despite Sainz's commendable performance, Ferrari's overall competitiveness was called into question as they were outperformed by unexpected rivals, including Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas. The team's response to these challenges was closely scrutinized by the media, with Sainz fielding inquiries about Ferrari's standing relative to their competitors following the reversion to the Imola specification.

Sainz stated: “It [performance] is clearly not good enough. We are basically the same car as in Imola and since Imola, everyone has upgraded, probably added two-tenths to the car and we have had to revert.

“We have lost two-or-three months of performance gain in the wind tunnel or performance we could have added in these three months. So clearly, we haven’t taken the right calls recently.

“But I feel like today [Sunday in Silverstone] was at least back-to-basics, back to a car which was in Imola and we just need to upgrade it from here. But it is clear that our rivals are a good step ahead of us,” He admitted.

When asked if the new package that caused the SF-24 to bounce at high speed could be used in the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, where the track is much slower, Sainz responded: “Yes, it will still mean we will bounce in Turns 4 and 11, but until nothing better comes, we may have to live with bouncing for slow-speed performance while, in high-speed tracks we might have to run the floor off this package because if not, the other one is undrivable.

“So far, [this is] the situation we are in, I trust the team will make the right calls circuit-to-circuit, until a more solid package, which is not bouncing in high-speed and good in low-speed, arrives.

“Then we will start thinking about battling the top three teams again,” The Spaniard, who is wrapping up his final season with Ferrari, finished.

Carlos Sainz, the talented Formula 1 driver, has been the subject of intense speculation regarding his future in the sport. As the year 2025 approaches, fans and experts alike eagerly await news of his next career move. Rumors have circulated linking Sainz to several top teams, including Audi-Sauber, Williams, Mercedes, and most recently Alpine. The anticipation surrounding Sainz's decision has only added to the intrigue of the upcoming season.