Sainz completed his first real Ferrari work day

Ferrari has revealed that Carlos Sainz has completed his first real ’work day’ with the Maranello-based team as he met engineers and took to Ferrari’s simulator.

Ferrari’s Team Principal Mattia Binotto revealed last May that the team would part way with Sebastian Vettel and would sign Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard, who joined Formula One with Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2015, will be Ferrari’s third Spanish drivers after Alfonso de Portago and Fernando Alonso.

Despite being only 26-year-old, the Madrid-born driver will bring a wealth of experience to Maranello after driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren. The former Formula Renault 3.5 champion first visited Maranello before Christmas when he held a meeting with Binotto, Ferrari’s engineers and subsequently with the media.

Sainz, who has recorded two podium finishes so far, visited Maranello this week for the first time in 2021. Following a lengthy meeting with the team’s engineers, he was given the opportunity of driving in Ferrari’s simulator.

Ferrari uploaded a video message in which Sainz revealed that he finally started his integration into Formula One’s most successful outfit. "Hi everyone. Hello from Maranello. Finally, here, finally starting to work properly with all the engineers, all the people here.

"I'm always meeting a lot of new faces, a lot of new names,” he added. „That is going to be tough to learn immediately, but I'm getting there. Yesterday I think I had six-and-a-half hours of meetings, which obviously was encouraging to see already everyone working flat out for this year.

"Today for the first time I'm jumping in the simulator, so I will get to try for the first time the car, the simulator, and start giving a bit of feedback, working hard for this season. Thank you very much for the support, we keep pushing, and see you soon. Bye!"