Sainz insists Ferrari F1-75 'did not develop in my direction'

©Ferrari

Carlos Sainz has rubbished suggestions that his results with Ferrari improved last summer thanks to the development path followed by the Scuderia's F1-75.

Charles Leclerc won three of the first two races of 2022 and consistently outscored his teammate in the opening leg of the season.

But Sainz was able to ramp up his performance thereafter, the Spaniard securing his maiden Grand Prix win at Silverstone in the early summer.

Sainz's improvements coincided with Ferrari's development schedule, but the British Grand Prix winner dismissed any correlation between the two events.

"I've read this somewhere, where the car developed towards my style, and I think it's completely wrong," Sainz said after F1's season finale in Abu Dhabi.

"The car feels exactly the same as the beginning of the season. We're just less quick compared to the Red Bulls or the Mercedes.

"I just learned how to drive it, I changed my driving style, fine-tuned the set-up a bit more to my liking.

"But the car didn't develop in my direction or anything like that, so I hope this doesn't get pointed out there because it's completely fake and it's not the real story of the year.

"We simply got out-developed by Mercedes and Red Bull."

Read also: Leclerc reveals 'most painful moment' of 2022 season

While Sainz's performance undoubtedly improved, the Scuderia charger was still outscored by Leclerc by 62 points in the final Drivers' standings.

Assessing the Monegasque's season, Sainz commended Leclerc for his runner-up spot in the championship, admitting that his teammate's strong form was also behind his efforts to change his driving style and improve his pace.

"I think he deserves to finish second this year," Sainz explained.

"He's been super strong all season with this generation of cars. He's been driving extremely well, and he made me have to adapt and change a bit my driving to try and be closer to him.

"But [congratulations to him] because he did a great season on his side on his driving, and he deserves to be in front of Checo [Sergio Perez]."

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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.