Formula 1

Sainz 'needed' P2 in Spanish GP qualifying but expects 'tough' podium fight

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Carlos Sainz says he "needed" his P2 result in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

After teammate Charles Leclerc was eliminated in Q1, the Spaniard carried not just the hopes of his home fans but also the Scuderia's on Saturday in Barcelona.

And Sainz would deliver to claim his best qualifying position of the season and finish 'best of the rest' behind a dominant Max Verstappen.

“Yeah, I needed it," he said post-session. “I was very good today. I felt like I was driving very well.

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“It’s always one-tenth here, one-tenth there, but I was pushing everything. I didn’t leave anything on the table today. I was pushing flat out.

“It was very tight even with McLaren, with Alpine, with Mercedes, Aston [Martin] – we were all in the same group basically this weekend.

“So I think P2 is as far as I could make it today and that 12.7 [was] a pretty good lap.”

Rain before and starting the session made qualifying even harder for the drivers, giving Sainz extra satisfaction in his performance.

“It was very, very tricky conditions out there today," he admitted.

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"Getting through Q1/Q2 without any issues and putting a good lap only with one set in Q3 was probably one of the most tricky qualis I’ve had here in Barcelona.

“But we did it. I think we are in the best possible position going into tomorrow and now we can focus on trying to get that podium tomorrow.”

Sainz has a strong record at his home race, scoring points on every occasion since 2015 with a best finish of fourth last year.

But while he may start second, the Madrid native knows he has a tough task staying in the top three in a race where tyre wear is set to be crucial.

“I think as soon as I get back to the engineers, they will tell me that the simulation suggests that the Red Bulls should still finish ahead of us," he conceded.

"I still think it’s going to be a tough call to get a podium tomorrow. We’ve put ourselves in the best possible position to achieve that, but I still think it’s going to be a good fight for me tomorrow.”

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