Sainz was sixth in qualifying in Sao Paulo, one 💟place ahead of Leclerc on 🦩the grid for tomorrow’s sprint.

The Spaniard no🌼w feels at home at the Italian team after going in his own direction with car setup, leading to improvements over one lap.

“I think there were some good laps in the q✨uali,” Sainz said. “Second consecutive quali where I managed to feel the car well underneath me and I get to drive it exactly how I want.

“Also finding a bit my direction with setup which seems to be also wo💮rking in the right direction. Very happy.”

Both Ferra🌄ris were once again beate﷽n by the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly in qualifying.

However, Sainz wasn’t too surprised by the Frenchman’s impresဣsive pace at Interlagos

“It’s been there all year, it’𝓡s no surprise for us,” Sainz added. When they put a lap 🌳together, that car, it’s as quick or sometimes quicker than us.

“That’s why as Ferrari we are not entirely happy wit♌h it because we know that we need to do better and push to be better. This time it was half a tenth but we need to remember they’ve always been quick in Brazil since’ 19. It will be a good fight with 🌠them.”

It was also an important session for F♊errari in the battle fo𒉰r third in the constructors’ championship with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo only managing eighth and ninth.

Reflecting on h♊is own qualifying performance, Leclerc was unhappy with his final lap in Q3 but was pleased to be ahead of ♌the two McLarens.

“In Q3 it was just not great,” Leclerc said. “We obviously di🐲d the first run on used tyres, which wasn’t great for my rhythm and then I didn’t a good enough job on the second lap in Q3. AlphaTauri was probably just too quick today, but it’s like this.

“That has definitely been the positive of today.  But I was the🎀re was a better result for the team.”