Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz is thrilled to be starting in sixth place for the Monaco Grand Prix, with what he called the ‘biggest’ adrenaline rush of the season.
Having shown pace throughout the Monaco weekend, it was clear from the outset that securing a top result in qualifying looked ever more likely for the Italian team, especially after Lewis Hamilton’s Q2 exit.
Wow. Just wow!” Sainz said.
“I feel so good, what a lap! This is definitely the most enjoyable lap in qualifying of the whole season, the one where you’re on the limit the most, the one that gives you the biggest adrenaline rush, the highest heart beat… And to qualify P6 at such a track is just an amazing result!
“It’s something that we absolutely deserve after a complete weekend, building it up until this afternoon’s qualifying.”
Despite clinching his best qualifying position of the season so far, the Spaniard was not happy with the way he was forced to conduct his runs due to the pace of the other cars around him.
Sainz does feel he can have a good race pace after the efforts put in through the practice sessions, however, the 22-year old is under no illusion of the pressures facing him on Sunday.
Sainz added: “I must say that in Q1 I was a bit surprised with the pace of the midfield, as they all suddenly caught us up and we, therefore, had to start putting in fast laps from the very start, something I don’t like to do here in Monaco. I prefer to build it up little by little.
“Then in Q3, I was able to put the best lap of the weekend together and I’m a very happy man! I can still feel the adrenaline!
“Regarding tomorrow, I’m confident we can have a good race, we are fast in both long and short runs so we just need to make sure we get everything right at the start, lead the midfield and try and attack when possible!”
