“In practice you tend to try to change your driving style and I remember in 2022 when I had problems with the Ferrari, I managed to be fast in practice and then I would get to qualifying and that natural instinct comes back, then you need to be very disciplined and it’s something that takes time.
“It’s something that takes a lot of effort from a mental and driving perspective,” added the Spaniard.
Sainz admitted it could take him up to 10 races to fully adapt to his new car in order to be as competitive as he wants.
“First of all it depends on how far away it is from your natural driving style,” he said. “The further away, the longer that process is, and it also depends on what you consider to be adapted.
“If it’s 100%, which is when you close your eyes, you drive, and you’re naturally fast, then it takes even more than a year to get to that point.
“But for me that should take less than half a year, five to 10 races, and that’s the way I look at it.”
After scoring that single point in China, Sainz is heading into the Japanese Grand Prix 14th in the standings.