The 2 have been clashing for 3 seasons now. Let’s be sincere: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz can now not stand one another. Or quite, because the automotive started to indicate actual competitiveness within the begin of the 2022 Components 1 season, each time they’ve been shut on monitor, particularly on Carlos Sainz’s half, it have to be mentioned, there have been behaviors seemingly supposed to bother the opposite. We’ve got witnessed this on a number of events, together with this season.
In 2024, with Carlos Sainz leaving the Maranello group even earlier than the debut race, issues have intensified. The Spaniard has targeted extra on himself than on the group, which is likely to be justified, however when Charles Leclerc overtly states that his teammate doesn’t respect agreements, it raises eyebrows.
The Las Vegas race topped Max Verstappen as a four-time Components 1 world champion and it was solely a matter of time, so congratulations to him. Mercedes did nicely, with a incredible one-two end, due to George Russell’s wonderful driving within the first stint and Lewis Hamilton’s unbelievable comeback, exhibiting he’s nonetheless hungry, clearly. The McLarens carried out poorly however managed to attenuate the injury, sustaining a 24-point lead over Ferrari within the Constructors’ Championship.
Again to Ferrari: Charles Leclerc accuses Carlos Sainz of not being a group participant. After the second cease, the Monegasque emerged forward of his Maranello teammate however with chilly tires. At that time, his Ferrari race engineer Bryan Bozzi reassured him, saying: “Carlos has been instructed to not strain you, so handle the tire warm-up calmly.” Performed and dusted? Under no circumstances. Carlos Sainz overtook Charles Leclerc, and the Monegasque misplaced his cool: “Possibly you need to inform him in Spanish.” A comment implying that the Spaniard both doesn’t perceive or doesn’t wish to perceive.
Ferrari’s quantity 16 exploded after the race: “I did my job, however being respectful all the time screws me over! It’s not nearly kindness; it’s about respect. I would like to remain quiet, I do know, however the identical factor retains occurring.” Certainly, Caros Sainz, as usually occurs, didn’t honor pre- or mid-race agreements. For the Monegasque, this can be a supply of great frustration, which he struggles to cover in post-race interviews.
“I attempted to be aggressive, and I don’t remorse it, though the primary stint made me lose lots of time,” Charles Leclerc defined, referring to his battle with George Russell within the early laps. “On onerous tires, we had been among the many quickest, however on mediums, I struggled loads—I had no warning earlier than the entrance tires gave out.”
Then, on the Carlos Sainz problem: “Concerning Carlos, I want not to enter element. I’m not happy as a result of some agreed-upon issues weren’t revered. It’s tremendous, although: for the group, nothing modifications within the Constructors’ Championship since we completed third and fourth. For the Drivers’ Championship, I’m a bit disillusioned contemplating the battle with Lando Norris. Now I must deal with myself, attempting to do my finest, particularly in qualifying, and maximize each alternative from right here on.” – he identified.
Carlos Sainz is having fun with his eighth podium of the season. The Spaniard is aware of very nicely that he has his final possibilities to attain vital ends in F1 earlier than transferring to Williams, and who is aware of what the long run holds for his profession. Carlos is already not notably inclined to group agreements with Leclerc—this may be mentioned plainly—and since he was not confirmed by Ferrari, he has had much more purpose to behave on his personal. That mentioned, he prefers to not focus on it an excessive amount of with the media.
“I’ve clear agreements with the group and with Charles, and I want to not gasoline public controversies,” Carlos Sainz defined. “We’ll focus on internally what occurred without having clarifications in entrance of the media. I don’t use the radio to complain, nor do I speak about these issues to the press—it’s not my fashion, and I don’t suppose it’s acceptable. I consider it’s extra helpful to deal with every thing privately, as needs to be carried out in a group.”
The Spanish driver shared his perspective on the missed pit cease when he minimize throughout the pit lane entry as a result of, apparently, the mechanics weren’t prepared for the cease he had particularly requested a number of laps earlier: “I don’t intend responsible anybody. I wish to analyze and make clear what occurred. I had requested to pit two laps earlier, figuring out that Charles was quicker and that I may have helped him, however with Lewis Hamilton behind, the state of affairs was sophisticated. Moreover, the graining made it tough to proceed, which is why I insisted on stopping. Regardless of every thing, we stayed out, resulting in confusion on the pit lane entry. My tempo dropped after that. I want to debate it internally with out fueling public controversies.”
Briefly, this Carlos Sainz podium might be adopted by many post-race clarifications. Past all that, Ferrari is amassing lower than hoped for within the struggle in opposition to McLaren, and the hole is now 24 factors, with two races and a Dash Race remaining within the championship. Now it’s off to Qatar, the place the MCL38 is predicted to have the benefit. Most likely, Ferrari’s race administration was not optimum, because it may have achieved extra. Is the championship over? Completely not, however everybody might want to row in the identical course to have a greater probability of profitable. So, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc must get alongside, even when just for present.
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