Sainz happy with 'most enjoyable lap in qualifying of the whole season'

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Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz continued his productive run in Monaco in the afternoon's qualifying session, clocking in with a time which puts him P6 on tomorrow's grid.

The Spanish driver hasn't put a foot wrong since Thursday, consistently delivering a good performance in every session, and qualifying was no exception.

"We've been looking strong all weekend but suddenly in qualifying everything was as tight as in the previous races," explained Sainz.

"But we built it up, probably a bit too quick for my liking. We were doing really fast laps from Q1 onwards, and then in Q3 we just threw everything out there.

"This is definitely the most enjoyable lap in qualifying of the whole season – the one where you’re on the limit the most, the one that gives you the biggest adrenaline rush, the highest heart beat…"

"I'm extremely happy."

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Sainz doesn't have any complaints about the overall balance of Toro Rosso's STR12 but does feel it still lacks speed, which has led to some inconsistent performances.

"I think both the team and myself expected a bit more in terms of speed the Toro Rosso because we've been doing a very good chassis.

"So the balance is always there, it's just that sometimes you put in some good laps with the balance okay and suddenly you're P12, and it's a bit of a down for the team.

"This weekend everything has worked perfectly, the balance was as good as in all the other five races but the lap times are suddenly there."

Looking ahead, Sainz is looking to sustain his momentum after hopefully staying out of harm's way at the start.

"I’m confident we can have a good race – we are fast in both long and short runs so we just need to make sure we get everything right at the start, lead the midfield and try and attack when possible!

"I will enjoy a good dinner tonight!"

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.