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Given Ferrari’s place at the front of the grid, Carlos Sainz knows the consequences of failing to finish are now more severe.

In 2021, Sainz’s first season with Ferrari, he finished the season 5.5 points ahead of his team-mate Charles Leclerc, but at the start of 2022 it has been all change.

While Ferrari secured their spot as midfield leader in 2021, the Scuderia have now returned to the front of the grid in 2022 – but that lofty position has suited Leclerc much more than Sainz so far.

Leclerc has won two of the opening three races, the second of those a grand slam domination at the Australian Grand Prix, while at that event Sainz suffered a nightmare weekend that ended in the gravel as he crashed out on the second lap.

If Ferrari are to remain the pacesetters, Sainz knows he and the team must now be even more perfect as mistakes will carry more severe punishments.

“Charles is driving very well, he has understood this car very well and he’s doing great things with it,” said Sainz, quoted by Motorsport.com.

“Of course it’s a great car, but I also believe he’s putting together some very strong races and very strong performances.

“I was excited about qualy and the race, just to see how much progress I had made. But unfortunately it didn’t happen.

“There was always going to be one race when things didn’t go my way and when I would end up doing a mistake. So now the important thing is to