Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

F1 needs "half the field" to have podium potential – Sainz

Carlos Sainz believes Formula 1 needs to address the spread of performance in the field, as he thinks midfield teams should at least have the opportunity to regularly challenge for podiums.

 Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08

Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08

Charles Coates / Motorsport Images

Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso
 Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12
Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12
 Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12, Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India F1 VJM10, Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17, Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-17
 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
Carlos Sainz Jr., Scuderia Toro Rosso

Leading teams Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull have together locked out the podium in 10 out of 11 Formula 1 races in 2017 so far, with Lance Stroll's shock third-place finish in a chaotic Baku race providing the only exception.

Toro Rosso driver Sainz admitted earlier in the season that he felt dismay at the gap between the top teams and the midfield – and is calling for the F1 pecking order to be bunched up.

He told Motorsport.com: “I believe in equality, a lot more equality.

“I believe Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, they need to keep winning the championship. But I believe it should be a bit more exciting.

“It should include at least half of the field in a possible, potential podium battle.

“At the moment it’s not happening. There’s no chance. None of the midfield teams can do a podium under normal circumstances.”

Sainz, in his third year with Toro Rosso, has amassed 99 points since his 2015 grand prix debut – but is yet to finish higher than sixth.

And while Toro Rosso itself has long become a regular fixture in the F1 midfield, Sebastian Vettel's Italian GP victory for the team back in 2008 remains the only podium of its 12-year history so far.

Sainz continued: “I believe if you do a perfect weekend, like for example I did in Monaco [where Sainz finished sixth], I should have a chance of scoring a podium, if I’ve done everything perfect.

“[Haas driver Romain] Grosjean in Austria did a very good weekend and still finished P6. I believe there should be a bit more opportunities to shine for the midfield teams that at the moment we don’t have.”

Asked whether the field could be bunched up using a budget cap, Sainz said: “I don’t know. I don’t understand about politics so I’m not going to include myself in this discussion.

“But I believe they need to find something, a solution, to bring laptimes closer between all 10 teams.”

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Summer break Q&A Part 2 - James Allen responds to readers' burning questions
Next article Mercedes needs high-downforce gains to avoid "tricky" run-in

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global