---
title: "Ferrari hopes Sainz eliminates mistakes in second half of 2021"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2021/08/24/ferrari-hopes-sainz-eliminates-mistakes-in-second-half-of-2021/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2021-08-24T10:09:36Z"
modified: "2021-08-24T10:09:38Z"
---

# Ferrari hopes Sainz eliminates mistakes in second half of 2021

Carlos Sainz needs to eliminate his mistakes and put together a clean race weekend in the second half of the season, says Ferrari Formula 1 boss Mattia Binotto.

Sainz joined Ferrari at the beginning of the year following his move from McLaren, partnering two-time grand prix winner Charles Leclerc at the Italian outfit.

Out of the drivers who moved teams over the winter, Sainz’s transition has proved the smoothest, immediately dialling in to Ferrari’s 2021 car.

The Spaniard has two podium finishes to his name and is ahead of Leclerc in the drivers’ standings, but there have been plenty of errors during his first year at Ferrari, which Binotto wants to see eradicated in the remainder of the season.

“What I’m expecting from him in the second half \[is\] he has not yet been capable of putting together one entire weekend – there is always a mistake here or there: Quali, start or in the race,” Binotto said, as quoted by RaceFans.

“So I’m expecting that he will continue his learning the team, continue his learning the car and soon, hopefully, he will put together an entire weekend. I think that’s important for him at first.”

Despite his on-track errors, Binotto admits he’s “not surprised” Sainz has adjusted to life at Ferrari so quickly, believing his past performances relative to his team-mates show how talented he is.

Sainz spent his rookie F1 season in 2015 alongside current title contender Max Verstappen, out-qualifying the Dutchman 10-9, and finished ahead of Lando Norris in the standings during the two years he raced for McLaren.

“When we decided and contacted him to make him the offer, we made a lot of analysis and we knew that he was a strong driver,” Binotto said.

“We knew that he was a strong racer, we knew that was very consistent in the race and he was fast as well. I think he has proved to be fast since he was in F1.

“We shouldn’t forget that his very first F1 season with Toro Rosso, his team mate was Max, and that very first year he was doing well. And if we look as well at the last year with Lando I think again, he was doing very well and we know how Lando is strong and I think that he is showing it as well in the current season. So we are not surprised by how strong he is or how fast is.”