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Sainz wins, but Ferrari tactics in the dock again

A beaming Carlos Sainz claimed his first Formula One victory in a spectacular triumph in the British Grand Prix on Sunday but his Ferrari team were still left facing questions.

The 27-year-old Spaniard, starting from his maiden pole position on his 150th race, resisted a late-charging Sergio Perez of Red Bull, who recovered from 17th, to take the flag by 3.7 seconds in front of a record 142,000 crowd.

Sainzā€™s victory ended Red Bullā€™s run of six consecutive victories.

But after another frustrating afternoon for Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth, there were still questions about Ferrariā€™s tactics and race management on a day when a one-two finish appeared to be in sight.

Sainz, who spent his early racing career in England, was delighted to gain his maiden F1 win at the high-speed Silverstone circuit where he secured his first victory as a teenager.

ā€œSilverstone is a special place for me,ā€ said Sainz.

ā€œMy very first race win in Formula Three was here and now 12 years later I get the same result in Formula One! Itā€™s a special result here for me.

ā€œI donā€™t know what to say. Itā€™s amazing. My first F1 win, 150 races later, with Ferrari and in Silverstone. I just cannot ask for more.

ā€œItā€™s a very special day. I am very, very happy. Lewis (Hamilton) was on it, Iā€™ve heard, but we were able to stay on it 

ā€œI struggled with the balance. It wasnā€™t easy, but I stayed believing it could still happen and I needed to stay in the race ā€“ and the Safety Car came and I did it.

ā€œIt wasnā€™t easy! I had nerves during the Safety Car re-start. I needed to get it done.ā€

After a run of disappointing results, Ferrari had arrived at Silverstone badly needing to win to re-boot their championship challenges after leading earlier in the season.  

Twice in recent races, they had seen Leclerc retire from the lead with engine failures, another victory lost due to a bungled strategy decision and a further opportunity lost by starting at the back of the grid due to an engine-related grid penalty.

For Leclerc, it was a critical weekend and, once again, he was disappointed as he was unable to capitalise on series leader and world champion Max Verstappen having problems and finishing only seventh.

ā€œI gave my absolute best,ā€ he said. ā€œBut it wasnā€™t enough and it is obviously disappointing.

ā€œAt the end of the race, it was very nice to be racing so close, but on the other hand I had ā€˜hardsā€™ and everyone else was on ā€˜softsā€™.

ā€œAfter the race, Mattia (Binotto, Ferrari team chief) wanted to cheer me up and we had a chat. Thatā€™s it. Nothing else.

ā€œWe have to look at the global picture. From my side, I only have my race and I feel like I lost so much time ā€“ it is only my view, but I havenā€™t seen the full picture.

ā€œI donā€™t want the focus to be pointed to my disappointing race. For my team-mate to win his first race in F1 is very special.ā€

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