Carlos Sainz Jr believes that Renault Formula 1 team pace at Belgian Grand Prix was genuine.
Daniel Ricciardo was “super quick” during second free practice session. While Max Verstappen led the session, Riccciardo was next to him being second fastest despite hydraulic issue.
Sainz thinks that Spa-Francorchamps circuit suited French team very well. And it does not suit McLaren the way it did Renault.
McLaren scored seventh and ninth position in FP2 agianst Lando Norris and Sainz respectivley.
“It’s a very different track and the car is behaving differently in a much lower downforce configuration,” said Sainz.
“You can see some things changing around: Renault look super quick and we look decent.
“Honestly, we are happy with our performance today but, yes, that Racing Point and that Renault look a bit too quick for comfort at the moment.”
Last year, Renualt struggled at the same track in Spain. The improvement this year is affiliated to the low down-force circuits. French manufacturer holds the strength on similar type of tracks.
Sainz added: “I’m not surprised at all, because last year here and in Monza, they were very quick.
“In low downforce configuration, their car seems to work really, really well.
“It’s something we knew coming into here, that they could be a very strong rival.
“We just need to keep focusing on ourselves, keep finding out why our car is decent in low downforce, but it’s not as strong as it should be.
“All things included, we were in the top 10 in both sessions, so we cannot complain too much.”
Lando Norris also added on Renaults performance in Spain. He thinks that low speed corners supported Renault. These corners provided advantage to the team as they lie in important parts of Spa.
“I think they are very good in the slow speed corners as usual,” said the Briton.
“And that’s where we struggle a lot, especially with the lower downforce we have now.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise – he’s [Ricciardo] always quick in FP2, it’s normally when he does his really quick laps – I think we just have a bit of work to do.
“But I did some mistakes which could have put me much closer.
“I think it is possible to do what he did, but the Renault is still very quick.”
