Sainz bemoans Tifosi absence ahead of "emotional" first Ferrari home race

Carlos Sainz is relishing the "special" experience of racing for Ferrari in Italy for the first time although has bemoaned the fact the Tifosi will be absent.

The Spaniard's second race for the Scuderia takes place at Imola this weekend, one of Italy's spiritual homes of motor racing, although will be devoid of the passionate Ferrari fans due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Sainz, however, described the emotions of arriving at the circuit for the first time dressed in red and insisted he could already feel the influence of the Tifosi surrounding the venue.

When asked if the occasion provided an extra thrill, Sainz said: "It does, of course.

"The first grand prix in Italy for a Ferrari driver is always special, it is always emotional. Unfortunately, the situation with the pandemic doesn't allow us to have the fans here on the weekend, to have the famous Tifosi.

"I will for sure miss them, I will miss that extra exciting factor that it has for being a Ferrari driver but you can already feel the atmosphere surrounding the circuit and everything, you can already see it is special."

Sainz's first experience of the Tifosi's adoration came last season as the Italian crowd rushed to welcome him as a Ferrari driver in the surroundings of Monza, even though he was still in McLaren colours.

"I felt it last year in Monza when I was still part of McLaren, how they still had that extra connection with me because they knew I was coming to the team the following year," he added.

"I can already feel it this year. We don't have the opportunity to see them in the grandstands and have them close to us but it should be an emotional one."

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