Sainz: I’m sure I’ll get on well with Vasseur

With Vasseur announced as the replacement of Mattia Binotto at Ferrari, many thought that was bad news for Carlos Sainz given the relationship Vasseur and Charles Leclerc shared from the latter's days as a rookie Formula 1 driver at Sauber in 2019.

Some might think that, after enjoying equal status with Leclerc during Binotto's reign, Sainz will be disadvantaged by Vasseur's arrival who might end up installing the Monegasque as the lead driver at Ferrari, a driver philosophy that has been ling adopted at the Italian squad until recently dropped by Binotto.

But the Spaniard doesn't seem to be worried, and told Italy's Autosprint: "I don’t think I’m starting from scratch.

"I’m sure I’ll get on well with him and he’ll be happy with me when he sees me work, with my relationship with the team and with Charles," he explained.

Sainz added that Vasseur's relationship with Leclerc will benefit the Scuderia; he commented: "I think his well-tested relationship with Leclerc will be very useful to everyone, also to accelerate his adaptation here."

Sainz also believes Vasseur is the right man to lead the F1's most famous team after Binotto; he said: "From what they’ve told me and from what I know, I think he’s the right man.

"Everyone in the paddock knows him and I’m sure he’ll do well," the 28-year-old from Madrid added.

Sainz believes Vasseur will need some time to slip into his new role, but believes he has the experience and knowledge to get up to speed in no time.

"There will be an adjustment period, but Fred knows Formula 1 very well and also Ferrari," he said. "Now there will be this preparation phase before we start working fully with him."

Sainz struggled at the start of the 2022 F1 season to get to grips with the new generation of ground effect cars, despite Ferrari's F1-75 being the pick of the field at the start.

He progressed well during the season and was able to take his first ever pole position and race win at the 2022 British Grand Prix.