Carlos Sainz slammed for ‘disappointing’ sight at Sao Paulo GP by Karun Chandhok

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Carlos Sainz has come in for criticism from Karun Chandhok, having seen something ‘disappointing’ from the Ferrari ace during the F1 Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The big talking point coming out of Interlagos was McLaren telling pole-sitter Oscar Piastri to yield the Sprint win to Lando Norris. But the 24-lap event also yielded plenty of other talking points beyond how the Woking outfit masterminded helping Norris in the drivers’ standings.

Defending champion Max Verstappen also put a spotlight on himself once again in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo GP. The Red Bull star cannot escape the headlines of late after controversial incidents battling Norris in Austin plus Mexico City, and almost one with Piastri in Sao Paulo.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s pace in the F1 Sprint at the Sao Paulo GP was ‘disappointing’

Verstappen received two 10-second time penalties for illegal moves on Norris in the Mexico City GP last time out. The Dutchman nearly drew another penalty in the F1 Sprint at the Sao Paulo GP, too, but Verstappen backed out in time to avoid overtaking Piastri during the VSC.

But while Piastri and Verstappen duelled over P2, the Ferrari pair were nowhere to be seen. Charles Leclerc came home in fourth place, 4.2 seconds behind the podium positions. Sainz was even a further 1.6s behind his Ferrari teammate, much to the frustration of Chandhok.

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After Sainz dominated to win the Mexico City GP last time out, Chandhok expected a great deal more from the Spaniard in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo GP. But the 30-year-old failed to ever emerge as a threat for the four cars ahead of him after struggling for pace from the off.

“Sainz’s pace is disappointing, isn’t it?” Chandhok said on Sky Sports F1 (02/11, 14:18). “He’s over three-and-a-half-seconds behind. The winner last time out in dominant fashion but he doesn’t seem able to hang onto this train of the top four.”

Carlos Sainz endured a lonely Sprint in Sao Paulo after dominating the Mexico City GP

Sainz was the class of the field through the first half of the Mexico City GP once he regained the lead. Verstappen completed a controversial overtake on Sainz at Turn 1 to take the early lead in Mexico City. But no driver could show the Spaniard a wheel once he was back ahead.

Norris was faster than Sainz in the latter stages at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez with McLaren favouring the hard tyres more than Ferrari. But the medium compound tyres were not enough for the Madrid native to battle drivers in front in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo GP.

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Never did Sainz look likely to pull a move on Leclerc and join Verstappen, Norris and Piastri in the fight for a podium finish. Instead, he endured a lonely time with George Russell also struggling for pace as the Mercedes man crossed the line 5.2 seconds behind the Spaniard.