Test driver Ferrari compares Sainz with Verstappen: "Difference minimal"

"Sainz is tremendously strong mentally. Carlos knows what he wants from the car and grows in the man-to-man fights on the track", Gene says in conversation with La Gazzetta dello Sport. With the Italian medium he goes on to say that Sainz hasn't made any blunders for a long time. "They are just little slips, almost no mistakes to mention. That's why he knows how to collect so many points."

Mentally very strong.

Gene finds this mental power particularly admirable. "That's really his great quality," says the Spaniard. "If you talk to him, you'll soon know you're dealing with a mature and intelligent man. Three days ago we phoned for a long time and then I got that confirmation again."

Sainz made his debut in 2015 at Toro Rosso alongside Max Verstappen, who also experienced his first season in Formula 1. "The difference in practice at the end of the year was only minimal. In my opinion Carlos gets the most out of a race. We saw it last year: the way he wins positions, manages the tyres, the strategic ability. He often started eleventh and finished fifth", the 25-year-old Madrileen can count on positive reviews.

Sainz great talent

According to Gene, Sainz' biggest improvement lies in fighting hard duels. "At the beginning of the season, he drove around relatively safely, without taking any major risks. But every Grand Prix he improved and in the last two weekends I saw him make attacks that I didn't expect. A sign of more self-confidence. In modern F1 he's a great talent," he concludes.