On the other side of the Ferrari garage, Carlos Sainz wound up fourth, just under half a second off the pace set by team mate Leclerc, as he explained some problems of his own behind the wheel.
“We had a few offs, but I think everyone did, the track was so tricky to drive, so dirty, so slippery,” he commented. “[Being] five seconds slower than last year gives you the data, that you know how much we were all struggling out there.
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“We kept it more or less clean, did the whole run plan. We went through some issues with the brakes in FP1 and managed to make it better for FP2. I’m not feeling 100% with my neck, also. I think I slept really badly last night and I cannot move almost. I managed to make it through the day and [I’ll be] ready for tomorrow.”
As for where he thinks Ferrari sit in the pecking order this weekend, the Spaniard said: “I think now it is very difficult to tell as no one put good laps together. I think tomorrow when everyone starts putting softs on in Q1, Q2, Q3, we will see where everyone stands.
“We are confident we are on the pace together with the Red Bulls, the McLarens and the Mercs. I think it is going to be extremely tight and it is all about tyre preparation, putting the lap together, being at the right time the right place on track with the yellow flags, the red flags, and hopefully we are with the right side of things.”
