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Sainz opens up about 'extra pressure' of being a Ferrari driver

Carlos Sainz had a largely successful debut season with Ferrari in 2021, but admits that driving for the famous F1 team brings with it some added stresses.

Carlos Sainz admits that there is an additional sense of pressure that comes with driving for Ferrari in F1. The Spaniard made his debut with the Scuderia in 2021 after making the switch from McLaren and had a largely successful year, having achieved four podium finishes as well as claiming fifth in the World Championship. This also put him ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished the season in seventh. Despite his recent success, Sainz says that there are some extra stresses that come with being a Ferrari driver. "It comes with a lot more pressure," Sainz told media including RacingNews365.com . "It also comes with a bit of a busier schedule, being a Ferrari driver and having to have so many commitments, so it does make the season a bit more packed, a bit more stressful, a bit more with extra pressure."

Sainz achieving a dream by racing with Ferrari in F1

However, Sainz acknowledges that it has been a dream of his to race for Ferrari, and as such the pressures that come with the role are much easier to deal with. "It's been fairly easy for me to keep reminding myself that I am achieving a dream," he said. "That is to drive for the best team in Formula 1, and the most historic team in Formula 1. "It's a dream come true for me since I'm a kid, [to] be driving for Ferrari, and if I keep reminding myself [of] this kind of thing, then I actually go into the [race] weekend always excited, always with good energy, always trying to learn, trying to become better to make sure that, if the chance of fighting for a World Championship with Ferrari ever arrives, I'm going to be as prepared and as ready as possible." Sainz thinks that all of this has enabled him to progress as a driver during his debut year with the team, and allows him to feel even better prepared for 2022. "This has given me a good balance this year," the 27-year-old explained. "It's allowed me to make another little step as a driver, and to make me finish the season on a high, and now [I'm] ready to [face] whatever comes in 2022."

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