Carlos Sainz believes efforts need to be made to improve the “equality” on the Formula 1 grid, slamming the inability for midfield teams to compete for podium places.
The current top three teams, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, have had a stranglehold on the top three positions in recent years, having filled the podium at 40 of the 50 races since the start of 2015 with only five drivers and three other teams taking the remaining 10.
As for Sainz, despite his often excellent performances, his best career finish in F1 is only sixth with Toro Rosso, leading to his frustration at not being rewarded for the performances he and others put in.
“I believe in equality, a lot more equality,” he told Autosport. “I believe Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, they need to keep winning the championship but I believe it should be a bit more exciting.
“It should include at least half of the field in a possible, potential podium battle. At the moment it’s not happening. There’s no chance. None of the midfield teams can do a podium under normal circumstances.”
Though the ambition of having five or so teams in a podium battle may seem ambitious, there are more teams that would certainly be capable with McLaren, Renault (under the Lotus name), Force India and Williams all having scored podiums in the hybrid era.
What makes the situation more frustrating is the gap between the top three and the rest appears to be bigger than ever thanks to the 2017 rule changes as the top three with their superior budgets have the ability to develop their cars faster and in more areas.
“I believe if you do a perfect weekend, like for example, I did in Monaco [where Sainz finished sixth], I should have a chance of scoring a podium, if I’ve done everything perfect,” the Spaniard commented
“[Romain] Grosjean in Austria did a very good weekend [for Haas] and still finished P6. I believe there should be a bit more opportunities to shine for the midfield teams that at the moment we don’t have.”
This issue has been brought up by F1 CEO Chase Carey and the new leadership with ideas of a budget cap and a standardisation of certain parts to reduce costs mentioned.
Asked if he thought those kinds of measures would help, Sainz replied: “I don’t know. I don’t understand about politics so I’m not going to include myself in this discussion.
“But I believe they need to find something, a solution, to bring lap times closer between all 10 teams.”
