F1 News
Sainz aiming for Mexico win and warns rivals: 'I have less to lose'
- Sandy van Wijngaarden
Carlos Sainz will start the Mexican Grand Prix from pole position this Sunday, while championship contenders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will line up behind him. Is Sainz keeping their championship battle in mind, and how will he handle his own race start with the long straight towards turn one?
Starting from pole position in Mexico is different compared with other circuits due to the long run-up to the first corner. However, Sainz does not have a special approach to this race start on Sunday. "I just need to make sure I do a good 0-100, which is the most important thing when you start on pole, just make sure you do a good jump," he told reporters after qualifying in Mexico.
Sainz clearly has less to lose than Verstappen and Norris
The Spanish driver is aware of what is at stake between the drivers lining up behind him. "And from there obviously do the best I can to defend. I have two guys behind fighting for quite important things tomorrow and the run down into Turn 1 should be interesting. I have obviously less to lose in that sense and I'll make sure that I try and keep P1."
Despite being aware of the Norris and Verstappen rivalry, Sainz is focusing on his own race and the needs of his car on this particular track. "Honestly, the start I will just do everything I can to stay in P1 because also around Mexico that's really important for the cooling of the car, for the tyres and everything. So I'll do everything I can."
Exactly what approach he will take is dependent upon many factors. "But I say my focus is on the 0 to 100 and on the launch. Then everything else happening from then onwards… It depends, also, on how good my rivals start and all the instinctive decisions that we all take in the start. I'll trust my instincts and obviously with the intention of getting out of that corner P1 for sure," Sainz said.
In terms of his odds to win the race, Sainz is gunning for another win which would be his second win this season since Australia back in March. He explained his hopes for the race, "relatively confident because I know my race pace should be good tomorrow. Probably the biggest difficult thing will be the run down into Turn 1 and starting on pole with a slipstream, no? But I think you can still defend, you can still make it stick into Turn 1 starting on pole and that will be my target tomorrow."
This article has been created in collaboration with Jenny Garnett.
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