Sainz: Binotto leading us in the right direction

Despite having arguably the fastest car on the grid this season, Ferrari are lagging 97 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship, while Charles Leclerc is 80 points behind Max Verstappen who leads the Drivers' Standings, as the team suffered from reliability problems as well as their infamous strategy decisions that saw them shoot themselves in the foot on various occasions.

That has put the spotlight on Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto as his ability to steer the fabled team towards Title glory again has been put to question.

Carlos Sainz however has faith the Binotto is the right man of the job, even saying he was one reason he finds himself at Ferrari.

"Mattia has been for me a very important piece of the puzzle," Sainz told Formula 1's official website. "When joining Ferrari, he was the one who trusted me probably more than anyone, when signing me, and I had to be there to prove him right.

"I had to be there in 2021 to produce results he and Ferrari expected from me," he added. "Since then, my relationship has been great, I think he’s a great team leader.

"I think the appreciation and respect he has inside the team is huge and he’s leading us in the right direction for sure," the Spaniard insisted.

Sainz beat his teammate Charles Leclerc in this first season together at Ferrari in 2021, but this years, the tables have turned as, so far this season, the latter has been the better Scuderia driver, the Spaniard notably struggling with his F1-75 early on.

Touching on their relationship, Sainz said: "Charles always produces extremely good laps through practice into qualifying, and this year also very good race pace.

"He’s always a great reference to have in the team, a great guy to get on with, a guy that I really have learned a lot from in the past few years and a guy who I look forward to having as a team mate for the future, because we get on well and create a good partnership.

"We get to spend a lot of time together both at Maranello and at the track and normally have similar opinions about a lot of stuff," he went on. "Apart from that, when it’s time to have fun, we can have fun, play some sports. Not everything is super serious and team-dependent. I hope we can keep it that way."

The 27-year-old from Madrid currently lies fifth in the Championship, 102 points behind Verstappen, but is not ruling out a Title push, not until it's mathematically impossible that is.

"Statistically, anything is possible. That’s why my intention hasn’t changed," he admitted. "I'm still going into every weekend trying to win the race. It’s a crazy year we are doing. If you see how consistently the top-two teams are on top, it should be an easy championship where one wins, one finishes second, but it’s not like that.

"There are a lot of points swings, which makes me believe everything is possible. It’s a very different year to anything before as the racing is better, more things happening in the race, and I’m going to believe that until it’s over," Sainz maintained.

"I think so," the Ferrari driver answered when asked if, in coming years, he can fight for a Championship; given a proper car is put at his disposal.

"This year, my start of the season put me 50 points behind straight away and it’s difficult to make yourself look like a championship contender when you are minus-50," he explained.

"But if you look closely at the last few races, I am performing at a very similar level to the top guys. I feel like I’m there.

"It’s just that price I paid at the beginning of the season is costing me this year," the driver with 153 grands prix under his belt lamented.

Sainz has won his first race in F1 this year at the 2022 British Grand Prix which he started from pole, also the first of his career in top flight.