Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has said that it was much-needed that he completed a full race distance as he finished in third for the Miami Grand Prix.
Formula 1 can be ruthless at times and Sainz has certainly learned that in recent weeks, with him failing to score points at both the Australian and Imola Grands Prix.
He at least picked some up at the Sprint in Imola, but he has seen his title chances take a pretty big hit at this early stage, given the form of Charles Leclerc and the streak Max Verstappen is on.
Indeed, Sainz really needed a positive weekend in Miami and, despite finishing behind Verstappen and Leclerc, he can surely take plenty from his third-place finish across the pond.
Post-race, he was asked whether it was a relief to have finished the race with points to show for it and, whilst he stopped short of that, he explained that it was much-needed just to experience a full Grand Prix distance again more than anything:
“It’s not so much a relief – but it’s needed.
“I think I needed to complete a race distance, to get the body back to shape, and also get the feel for the car on used tyres, high fuel.
“I was still doing a couple of mistakes out there during the race, just because I was trying the car and trying myself out there.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 08: Third placed Carlos Sainz of Spain and Ferrari shakes hands with Dan Marino on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at the Miami International Autodrome on May 08, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
“The important thing is that we got a full race in, but at some stages of the race I was pretty quick and also the battles and the feeling with the car in battle with Checo [Perez], you know what to do with the battery, with the tyres, I think it gave me a good understanding of what to do in the future.”
Sainz obviously has a bit of work to do now to try and reel in the likes of Verstappen and Leclerc but he will at least feel as though he's getting back on track after a decent weekend in Miami.
Up next is a home race in Spain and so he'll be eager to record good points in front of his local crowd if he can.