Sainz 'more nervous' when asked to use trademark technique by new team

Entering the final stage of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Williams drivers were asked to form a DRS train, in order to battle rookie Isack Hadjar. Carlos Sainz explains it is different when you are being asked to do it.

At the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, Sainz held Lando Norris within DRS range on purpose, so the at the time faster Mercedes drivers could not get past him.

Last Sunday, the Spaniard had to repeat that. Sainz was running in P8, with Alexander Albon and Hadjar behind him, however, on an alternative strategy, the Frenchman was on mediums.

The two teammates therefore had to collaborate in order to avoid being one by one overtaken by the rookie.

"And then I think it was 12-13 laps to go. The team asked me to give the DRS to Alex to make sure Hadjar didn't have a chance of passing us. Bit of a tricky one because you always feel like it exposes you also, especially on a high-speed track where the DRS has a very big effect around here. And you always get a bit nervous about it, because you know from there on you cannot put a foot wrong if you do a mistake or hit a wall or whatever," he told GPblog among others in the paddock.

Sainz only scored points this season after three drivers were disqualified in China, but in Jeddah, the Spaniard could be ahead of his teammate. "In the end it worked and I could show my pace in the last lap. I pushed and I had a lot of pace which is a really good sign. So, very happy honestly, very solid weekend."

'Not as natural as in Singapore'

When the Spaniard was told about that he invented this technique, he smiled, but explained it was not the same this time.

"I know. This is not the same when it comes from your idea because you know you're a hundred percent sure, compared to when it comes from the team, which is, you always struggle a bit more to commit to it, because it doesn't come natural for you."

He concluded: "But I think we did the right call in the end, it ensured P8 and P9, and we could bring home this incredible result for the team."

With these important six points for the constructors' standings, Williams are in P5, with 25 points collected so far.

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