Recent progress has made Sainz confident for 2022

Carlos Sainz is feeling confident about the 2022 campaign due to the progress he had made in recent rounds.

The Spaniard has enjoyed an excellent first season with Ferrari, with him occupying P7 in the Constructors’ Championship and just 8.5 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc with one round to go.

While he adapted to his new machinery quicker than most, he has been particularly strong in the latter stage of the season with little to choose between he and Leclerc at most rounds.

Indeed he feels he has made a lot of progress, and that gives him confidence for next season.

“I think I’ve made progress since September,” he said as per the Spanish branch of Motorsport.com, during a visit to Expo Dubai 2020.

“That progress has made me stronger in the last four or five racing weekends where I’ve been driving the car to the limit in practice and racing, and that has made me finish consistently in points positions.

“I am proud of this progress in recent weeks and it makes me feel confident for 2022.”

My face this Monday after that crazy race 😮
–#Carlossainz pic.twitter.com/VvEpTwxYCT

— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) December 6, 2021

With new regulation changes coming into play next year, Sainz and his team will be aiming to fight for wins and maybe even championships after spending this season at the top of the midfield.

Right now though all the talk is still about the current title fight with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, who enter the final round in Abu Dhabi level on points.

Their battle has been far from a clean one, with their wheel to wheel battles often causing controversy, particularly at the last round in Saudi Arabia where they came together again.

In the eyes of Sainz, the most important thing is that the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers race fairly and honestly in the season finale.

“In my view, I think it’s going to be a great fight again, a very close fight,” he added.

“I just hope both drivers have a clean fight, be honest with each other and we can all enjoy a spectacular end of season in F1.”

Sainz’s focus will be entirely on the Driver’s Championship at Yas Marina with Ferrari all but certain to take P3 in the Constructors’ Championship ahead of McLaren.

As well as his team-mate, he can also get ahead of good friend Lando Norris with just 4.5 points between the two of them.