Carlos Sainz Jr, the Spanish driver for Ferrari, believes that his team is closer to Red Bull than expected at the Japanese Grand Prix. However, he acknowledges that it will be difficult to defeat Red Bull. Ferrari emerged as the main challenger to Red Bull in the early stages of the 2024 season, with Sainz taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s retirement to secure a Ferrari one-two in Australia. The high-speed Suzuka circuit, where Verstappen dominated last year, was expected to favor the Red Bull car. Nevertheless, Sainz finished third in the practice session, just two tenths behind the fastest time set by Red Bull. Sainz expressed optimism about the progress made by Ferrari, but acknowledged the challenge of competing with Red Bull. He also predicted a fierce competition between Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes throughout the weekend. Sainz denied that his victory in Melbourne significantly boosted his confidence, attributing his strong performance to the improved performance of the Ferrari car this year.
