Sainz: 'If there's a team that can turn things around quickly, it's Ferrari'.

Step back from McLaren

Sainz leaves McLaren after a strong year. The team came close to a victory in Italy with Sainz and finished third in the constructors' standings. In addition, the Renault engine will be replaced by a Mercedes engine in 2021. The switch to Ferrari seems to be a step backwards.

"Certainly it was a bit annoying, because everyone was kind of implying that Ferrari was going to also be as bad in 2021, and you never know in Formula 1," says Sainz in conversation with Autosport.com. "[Ferrari] of course took a step backwards in 2020, and they were the first ones to admit it, and to be very self-critical. But people were just convinced that 2021 was also going to be a struggle."

Never regretted his choice

Because Sainz has signed a two-year deal with the Scuderia and in 2022 the rules are going to change, he thinks that 2021 is a lot less important. "[It was] annoying at the time, but I kept my head cool. I never said something or anything that I regret. I guess [I'm] happy for that."

Ferrari seemed to have taken a step forward at the end of 2020. "[It looks] good, without having had been able to drive the car, and knowing what they've actually changed or anything like that. It just looks a bit better for them, and I'm happy to see that they're moving forward. I've always said that if there's a team that is able to turn things around quickly in Formula 1, for me that is Ferrari," Sainz concludes.