Formula 1 has a unique blend of driver personalities. Some can be ice cold, like Kimi Raikkonen, and others are aggressive like Verstappen. But the ones fans adore the most are the class clowns, like Daniel Ricciardo. Another driver on the grid who has gained notoriety for his antics is none other than the Smooth Operator. Carlos Sainz has impressed his fans through both his race craft and off-track shenanigans.

The Number 55 Driver never shies away from having some fun. His conversations with his engineer picked up admiration from fans in his McLaren days. The Papaya Army will be delighted to know that it isn’t just on a track that Sainz says something funny to his engineer. Unfortunately for Sainz, his banter with his engineer was reflective of the Spaniard’s fate at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.

Ferrari Engineer stuns Carlos Sainz in Ferrari’s behind-the-scenes video

In a behind-the-scenes video from the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, The Spaniard can be seen taking a cold plunge. He asks his engineer to engage in some banter, “Have you seen Game of Thrones?”. To which he gets the reply, “I don’t watch Game of Thrones.”. The engineer added a mighty comeback of his own – “No, I’ve got a life”. Sainz was having none of it though, and clapped back instantly, “Says the guy that has worn one shirt seven times in a row!“.

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Despite the fact that this was only pleasant banter between the two, it ought to have foreshadowed Carlos Sainz’s Qatar Grand Prix weekend. The SF-23 was diagnosed with a fuel issue just hours before the race. And to his utter dismay, the mechanics in red were unable to fix the issue in time. As if the pressure from an in-form McLaren was not enough. With one Ferrari out of the race, before it even started, the Scuderia’s weekend had unfolded disastrously. Charles Leclerc started in 5th but was unable to surpass the speedy McLaren and the consistent Mercedes Duo.

Just a few weeks ago, Sainz and Ferrari celebrated a strategic masterclass at Marina Bay. But now the Maranello outfit are scratching their heads as to why the problem could not be fixed ahead of the race. F1 Journalist Peter Windsor too shared similar sentiments, commenting on how in all his years covering Formula 1, he has never heard of a team not being able to mend fuel issues before the race. Sainz himself wondered whether the issues could not have been fixed, without removing the fuel system from the car. Which may be the reason behind his dismal weekend.

After Charles Leclerc’s Heartfelt Tribute, Carlos Sainz Shares “Emotional” Ferrari Story

The weekend’s mishap, as well as Sainz’s banter with his engineer, have been curiously reminiscent of both his and Leclerc’s tenure at Maranello. In Singapore, Sainz had to put on his thinking cap because his method outperformed the entire field. While his tactical prowess has been greatly lauded, it reflects poorly on Ferrari’s strategy department. After a challenging season last year due to strategic decisions and reliability concerns, Formula 1’s most iconic manufacturer has yet to rediscover its stride.

Will the Prancing Horse gallop again?

The Singapore Grand Prix weekend was the perfect showcase of Ferrari’s capability to win races. It only required a lot of variables to line up, such as Russell’s catastrophic error. If Ferrari wants to challenge Red Bull, who have outright dominated the sport in the last 2 years, they need to step it up.

While they may have had an uneventful weekend in Qatar, the Maranello outfit has been making progress. But will it come fast enough? For once, things are looking optimistic for the Scuderia. Sainz, being the only ‘non-Red Bull driver’ to win a race in 2023, is looking as confident as ever. On the other hand, the arrival of Frederic Vasseur has put Leclerc somewhat at ease with his doubts.

One place where Ferrari has consistently fallen short is development throughout the season. If the team in Red can overcome this hurdle, they have a fighting chance for sure. But they are not the only ones playing catch-up with Red Bull. McLaren is arguably the team that has made the most progress this year. Combine that with their feisty driver pairing, Ferrari has quite the challenge to get to the top.

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All dominant eras come to an end, and so will Red Bull’s. But will it be Ferrari that causes it? Formula 1 is heading into a very competitive future for sure. Stay tuned for more!