How Sainz 'risked a lot' and nearly 'messed up' third placed qualifying

  • Published on 06 Sep 2020 13:45
  • comments 0
  • By: Coilin Higgins

McLaren's Carlos Sainz had a brilliant qualifying to take third for the Italian Grand Prix but explained how he nearly messed up the change on his final run in Q3.

Sainz ran wide on his final run of Q3 at the first Lesmo, almost losing the car in the corner, but managed to keep going to secure McLaren's second third-place starting position this season.

"Well honestly, I have been feeling really strong since the start of qualifying and Q1," Sainz explained.

"I managed to go through with only one set, with a very strong lap and since then it was just chipping away to try to put a 19.6 on the board, which would have given me top five.

"So the last lap I nearly messed up. I had a big moment in Lesmo one and nearly lost it and since then on I had to drive like this and I'm actually shaking a bit because in Ascari and Parabolica I had to really go for it."

Sainz also explained how he wasn't as comfortable on his first run in Q3 opposed to his runs in the other sessions, prompting the Spaniard and the team to wait for the right moment and take the risk to secure the position in the dying seconds of the session.

"I felt like I was nailing Q1 and Q2," Sainz added.

"In Q3, my first run I didn't quite nail it and I was waiting for Q3 run two and it lap didn't start well and I was like, really needing some strong final few corners so I went for it, I risked a lot and it paid off."

 

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 12:07

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 12:07

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Williams
  • Points 1,274
  • Podiums 27
  • Grand Prix 212
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Sep 1 1994 (30)
  • Place of b. Madrid, ES
  • Weight 66 kg
  • Length 1.78 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar