The 2 have been clashing for 3 seasons now. Let’s be trustworthy: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz can now not stand one another. Or relatively, because the automotive started to point out actual competitiveness within the begin of the 2022 Method 1 season, at any time when they’ve been shut on observe, particularly on Carlos Sainz’s half, it should be mentioned, there have been behaviors seemingly meant to bother the opposite. We have now witnessed this on a number of events, together with this season.
In 2024, with Carlos Sainz leaving the Maranello workforce even earlier than the debut race, issues have intensified. The Spaniard has centered extra on himself than on the workforce, which is perhaps justified, however when Charles Leclerc brazenly states that his teammate doesn’t respect agreements, it raises eyebrows.
The Las Vegas race topped Max Verstappen as a four-time Method 1 world champion and it was solely a matter of time, so congratulations to him. Mercedes did properly, with a unbelievable one-two end, due to George Russell’s wonderful driving within the first stint and Lewis Hamilton’s unimaginable comeback, exhibiting he’s nonetheless hungry, clearly. The McLarens carried out poorly however managed to reduce the harm, sustaining a 24-point lead over Ferrari within the Constructors’ Championship.
Again to Ferrari: Charles Leclerc accuses Carlos Sainz of not being a workforce 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 informed to not stress you, so handle the tire warm-up calmly.” Achieved and dusted? Under no circumstances. Carlos Sainz overtook Charles Leclerc, and the Monegasque misplaced his cool: “Possibly it’s best to inform him in Spanish.” A comment implying that the Spaniard both doesn’t perceive or doesn’t need to perceive.
Ferrari’s quantity 16 exploded after the race: “I did my job, however being respectful at all times screws me over! It’s not nearly kindness; it’s about respect. I want to remain quiet, I do know, however the identical factor retains occurring.” Certainly, Caros Sainz, as usually occurs, did not honor pre- or mid-race agreements. For the Monegasque, this can be a supply of serious frustration, which he struggles to cover in post-race interviews.
“I attempted to be aggressive, and I don’t remorse it, although the primary stint made me lose a number 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 challenge: “Concerning Carlos, I favor not to enter element. I’m not glad as a result of some agreed-upon issues weren’t revered. It’s advantageous, although: for the workforce, 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 have to give attention to myself, making an attempt 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 properly that he has his final possibilities to attain important leads to F1 earlier than shifting to Williams, and who is aware of what the longer term holds for his profession. Carlos is already not significantly inclined to workforce agreements with Leclerc—this may be mentioned plainly—and since he was not confirmed by Ferrari, he has had much more motive to behave on his personal. That mentioned, he prefers to not talk about it an excessive amount of with the media.
“I’ve clear agreements with the workforce and with Charles, and I favor to not gas public controversies,” Carlos Sainz defined. “We’ll talk about internally what occurred with no need clarifications in entrance of the media. I don’t use the radio to complain, nor do I discuss these issues to the press—it’s not my fashion, and I don’t suppose it’s acceptable. I imagine it’s extra helpful to deal with all the pieces privately, as needs to be accomplished in a workforce.”
The Spanish driver shared his perspective on the missed pit cease when he lower 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 in charge anybody. I need to analyze and make clear what occurred. I had requested to pit two laps earlier, figuring out that Charles was quicker and that I might have helped him, however with Lewis Hamilton behind, the scenario was difficult. Moreover, the graining made it tough to proceed, which is why I insisted on stopping. Regardless of all the pieces, we stayed out, resulting in confusion on the pit lane entry. My tempo dropped after that. I favor to debate it internally with out fueling public controversies.”
In brief, this Carlos Sainz podium shall be adopted by many post-race clarifications. Past all that, Ferrari is amassing lower than hoped for within the combat 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 anticipated to have the benefit. Most likely, Ferrari’s race administration was not optimum, because it might have achieved extra. Is the championship over? Completely not, however everybody might want to row in the identical path to have a greater probability of successful. So, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have to get alongside, even when just for present.
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