Sainz still learning 'how to speak' at Ferrari

Carlos Sainz has settled in nicely at Ferrari during his maiden campaign with the Italian outfit, but the Spaniard admits he's still learning "how to speak" in public as a Scuderia driver to avoid his words being blown out of proportion by the media.

Sainz currently sits seventh in the Drivers' standings, just one spot and 5.5 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

The 27-year-old still needs to work on being more consistent and producing cleaner race weekends, but overall Sainz has adapted well to his new environment at Maranello.

But one area where he thinks he still needs to improve is on the communication front. Not with his team, but rather with the press, and the Italian media in particular which often magnifies news of what is happening at the House of Maranello.

"It is an interesting thing about how little 'news' can become huge 'news' just because you are Ferrari, or part of Ferrari," Sainz told Autosport.

"In Italy, this happens a lot and it's something that I'm still learning how to handle.

"I'm still learning to know how to speak in some ways, to realise that maybe if I say things this way instead of saying it the other way, it can become a huge headline or not.

"As a driver, I'm in the process of trying to educate myself how to handle these kind of situations, because it's not easy at all."

Sainz acknowledged the burden that sits on the shoulders of Ferrari's drivers whose every moves and words are closely watched and analysed, not only by the Tifosi, but also by an entire country.

"There is an extra responsibility that doesn't exist in other teams," conceded Sainz. "The fact that you are racing for a country is different, you know.

"It's like you're at the same time playing for Real Madrid and for Spain. Racing for Ferrari means you are racing for Ferrari and for Italy, and you need to be aware of that and have the responsibility that comes with it."

• Read also: Sainz disappointed with Ferrari depiction in 'Drive to Survive'

Despite the burden and stress that sometimes accompany members of the Scuderia, Sainz insists that racing for Formula 1's most successful and historically prestigious team is "an honour".

"For me it is an honour," he said. "Italy is a country that I love and that I spend a lot of time in.

"When I was a kid, I grew up in Italy, racing go karts, so I grew up knowing the passion that there is in Italy for Ferrari, and I grew up knowing that a lot of these karters that I was racing against wanted to be a Ferrari driver.

"The fact that it turned out to be me is a huge honour and a huge privilege. It's something that I'm very proud of."

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