In a challenging race at the Interlagos circuit, Ferrari's Formula 1 drivers faced the demanding task of employing a lift and coast strategy at "every corner" during the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint. Carlos Sainz, in particular, experienced the most management requirements he had ever encountered, hampering his performance on the track.

The sprint race commenced with Max Verstappen expertly overtaking polesitter Lando Norris at Turn 1 and assuming the lead in the 24-lap event. However, almost the entire field soon voiced their dissatisfaction with the need to manage temperatures throughout the race.

Despite the constraints imposed by the lift and coast tactic, Charles Leclerc showcased his prowess by surging from seventh to fifth place. Sainz, his Ferrari teammate, also managed to secure a single position improvement, finishing eighth. Unfortunately, both drivers struggled to find their rhythm due to the necessity of frequently lifting off the throttle.

Sainz expressed his frustration, stating that he had never encountered such extensive lift and coast requirements. The duo completed the sprint race on used soft-compound Pirelli tires, opting to save the better ones for Sunday's main Grand Prix in hopes of improved performance.

Sainz remarked, "Using our worst available tire sets and so much lift and coast made it very, very tricky for our temperatures. We simply couldn't push our race." He further highlighted the challenge of having to lift off even when running in clean air, not just when following other cars.

The impact of this strategy was evident as Daniel Ricciardo, driving for McLaren, succeeded in repeatedly overtaking the Ferrari. Sainz relied heavily on the Drag Reduction System (DRS) to compensate for his earlier braking, allowing Ricciardo to regain his position.

Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur acknowledged an error made in the cooling setup, which left the drivers "exposed" to the demanding lift and coast strategy. He remarked, "We made a small mistake on the cooling today, and we asked the drivers to do a massive lift and coast from lap two."

The team is optimistic about making improvements and expects a better direction for the upcoming races. With the challenges faced in Brazil, Ferrari aims to rectify the strategy to minimize the need for excessive lift and coast tactics in future events.

As the drivers and team analyze their performance, they will work on finding a balance between managing temperatures and pushing the limits on the track. The Brazilian Grand Prix sprint served as a valuable learning experience for Ferrari, highlighting the importance of effective tire management and the impact that even slight errors can have on race dynamics.