Sainz started the Saturday sprint event at Imola in 10th place after crashing out in Q2, and he put in a charging drive up to fourth place behind Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.
He will thus start Sunday’s grand prix from that position.
Sainz admitted that the qualifying crash had been a low from which he has to learn lessons.
“Very painful,” he said when asked by Motorsport.com about the impact it had on him. “I mean, I’m not going to hide it. It was a very negative day for me.
“It’s how it goes sometimes in sport, you have bad moments and yesterday that definitely was a low for me, and I keep trying to learn from them, and keep trying to make myself stronger from them.
“The important thing is that today we bounced back solidly and we put ourselves in the fight for tomorrow, and tomorrow anything could happen.
“I could still win, I could still make a podium and leave the weekend pretty happy. The important thing is to keep learning from these mistakes.
“I mean it’s no secret, mistakes like yesterday happen for a reason and I’m still not 100%, I’m out there fighting the car and trying to figure it out.
“Obviously I’m quick, this is no secret that yesterday I was quick, in Australia I was quick. It’s just the confidence with it, and the predictability that I have from the car. and as soon as I get this sorted I will be 100%.”
On Saturday, Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto said that Sainz has to learn to deal with the pressure of having a frontrunning car for the first time, but the Spaniard denied that pressure played any role in his Saturday crash.
Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari F1-75, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“I don’t think yesterday’s mistake was pressure,” he said. “I mean it was Q2, I knew I had already done a very good lap to go to Q3. I was just trying myself out there, to try different lines different balance.
“I’m still out there trying and hustling with the car to try and find my my…
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