Carlos Sainz using Real Madrid’s win vs Man City as inspiration to find Ferrari form

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Carlos Sainz is planning to take inspiration from Real Madrid’s remarkable Champions League comeback as he bids to get his F1 campaign back on track in Miami. On Wednesday night, Real stunned Manchester City in the second leg of their semi-final, scoring twice late on to force extra time. There, a Karim Benzema penalty sealed an aggregate 6-5 win in a one of the most dramatic ties in the history of the competition.

Fair to say that Spaniard Sainz hasn’t been enjoying the same levels of euphoria of his favourite football team of late. He began the season with two podium finishes, second behind teammate Charles Leclerc in Bahrain before coming third in Saudi Arabia.

But in Australia, Sainz encountered steering problems and duly spun off the track, forcing him to retire. Another disaster was to follow at Emilia Romagna, with the 27-year-old forced out on the opening lap following a collision with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo.

It leaves him fifth in the standings on 38 points, a full 48 behind overall leader Leclerc. And whilst it is the Scuderia who lead the constructors’ race, Sainz can ill-afford anymore bad luck if he is to fulfil his desire to mount a title challenge.

JUST IN: Lewis Hamilton escapes F1 ban with FIA giving Mercedes star ‘grace period’ on nose ring

And now his primary goal is a weekend in Miami without any incidents or technical problems: “I think it is more about a clean weekend more than anything else,” he told reporters. “The last two races I’ve been quicker in pure pace than the first two but the results have been worse.

“I was quite unlucky in Imola too, things out of my control, but [there are still] 19 races and like Real showed in sport everything can change in a matter of minutes. I’m still positive about it and I just need a clean weekend to get my season going,” he said.

DON’T MISS:
Miami GP suffers first crash as Valtteri Bottas brings out red flag
Sebastian Vettel mocks FIA ruling by wearing grey boxers over his Aston Martin uniform
Lewis Hamilton lashes out at ‘disrespectful’ Helmut Marko after retirement comments

Whilst the eyes of the world were on the Bernabeu for that dramatic conclusion though, Sainz was unable to see the drama unfold. He admitted: “I was in the middle of a Shelby power event, they were able to put in a TV for me because they know how big a fan I am of Real Madrid.

“I watched quite a lot of the match but I actually missed the last five minutes, which was the two goals. You can imagine how depressed I was for missing them but, at the same time, how excited I was.”

Source: Read Full Article