Sainz:
I have always said that until we go to Austin to test them on a "normal" circuit, we won't be able to evaluate the improvements we made at Zandvoort or Spa, the circuits where we had the most difficulties. I think this will be the most important test for us to understand how well these updates are working in the right direction, even on a more traditional circuit like this one.
We have nothing new here, we brought this update to Monza, then the front wing to Singapore. We need confirmation to know if the improvement in our pace is due to the circuits at Monza, Singapore, and Baku, or if the updates also have an effect on more traditional circuits like Austin. This is the ideal circuit to give us answers.
It must be said that others have used these three weeks to bring new things, we haven't been idle but have worked in different areas. It seems to me that some teams are bringing significant updates, and that could change the hierarchy a bit, so we will need to reassess the situation.
The next three races will largely determine our chances of winning the Constructors' Championship. If we perform as we did in the previous races, we can believe that we can do it, but if, on these more traditional circuits, we fall even further behind and can't go fast, then our hope will diminish. It’s about whether, when returning to circuits with long, fast corners, we can continue to fight at the top.
Leclerc:
We have made great progress this year, particularly in tire management. We understood what we needed to do with the car to become faster. The goal is clear: we want to score as many points as possible. I haven't ruled out a victory in the Constructors' Championship yet, and if we perform as well as we did in Monza and Baku, we can still make it. But everything needs to go right. We've had three races on atypical circuits behind us, namely Monza, Baku, and Singapore. Now we want to see here in Austin how all the improvements to the car have worked on more traditional circuits.
Here in Texas, I expect McLaren to be leading, Red Bull just behind, and then we should be on an equal footing. I don't see us as favorites, but rather as challengers. We haven't made significant improvements to the car. We just want to better explore what we have. We gathered a lot of data over the last few weekends, which should be enough to set up a good configuration, even though we have little time. We only have one practice session, then we move straight to qualifying.
In Monza, Baku, and Singapore, we didn't get a complete picture of our improvements, so I'm expecting more from the work done in Texas, Mexico, and Brazil. Of course, this also sets the direction for next season. We believe we are on the right track.
