Sainz gives prediction for Sunday: ‘Realistically, Red Bull is quicker”

"I think it can happen. I think nothing is impossible tomorrow, especially starting from P1. If I get a good start, I'm going to do everything I can to stay ahead of Max," Sainz commented on his chanced after qualifying. "We've got the motivation and the energy to do it. The car has been very good all weekend, especially over one lap."

However, the Spaniard also said that Red Bull are possibly the favourites for tomorrow given what they have achieved already this season. "I think, looking back at this year, 100% of races, they've been quicker and they've been clearly quicker. That makes me feel like it's not going to be easy at all. They're going to try to find a way past one way or another. But something could happen. We could also have a particularly good day tomorrow and get the win. So I'm just going to try and go open-minded into tomorrow. Drive as I want to win the race, and then adapt to the circumstances and to the race pace of each car."

Tyre degradation is a key factor

"From what I've seen through the long runs, I'm not going to lie, it's trickier. It's not the same picture as in quali. Red Bull, as soon as you put five or six laps on the tyre and everything starts to degrade a bit, it's where they come [alive], their strengths and the race pace that we've seen all year. But hopefully I can get a good start," the Ferrari driver expanded on what is Red Bull’s main strength.

Sainz added: "Then I can make Max and Checo behind and Charles' life, obviously, as difficult as possible. But I think we will need to work good as a team and give it our best shot. I think it's a good opportunity tomorrow, but also being realistic, the Red Bull should be quicker. We're just going to try and make their life as complicated as possible and try to take the win."