The tension is clearly palpable between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz while there are still two Grands Prix to contest in this 2024 F1 season.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was marked by a new escalation of tensions between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. As the Scuderia fights for the constructors' championship, internal rivalries jeopardize this ambition.
The incident happened on lap 31, just after Leclerc's second pit stop. Coming out in front of his teammate, the Monegasque was still struggling to warm his tires. His race engineer, Bryan Bozzi, had promised him that Sainz would not attempt anything, in accordance with established instructions. However, these agreements were shattered: a few turns later, Sainz won on the inside of turn 4, thus securing third place on the podium.
Leclerc's reaction was not long in coming. Furious, he denounced on the radio a breakdown of trust within the team.
“I am always the only one to follow the instructions”
he declared, before promising to no longer sacrifice his race for the collective interest.
A rivalry that lasts
This is not the first time that the two drivers have faced each other in such a direct manner. As early as the Spanish Grand Prix, similar tensions had emerged, with Leclerc accusing Sainz of not respecting team instructions.
These repeated confrontations are straining an already fragile relationship and compromising the unity needed for Ferrari to compete with McLaren in the fight for second place in the championship.
A strategy undermined
In addition to internal tensions, Leclerc had a complicated race. Author of a solid start, where he overtook Pierre Gasly and Sainz from the first corner, he came up against the limits of his Medium tires. By trying to stay in the wake of George Russell, future winner, he caused significant graining, ruining his first stint.
Despite an improved pace on the hard tires, Leclerc could only do better than fourth place, insufficient to catch up with Lando Norris in the drivers' championship.
A high-tension end to the season
With two races remaining, Ferrari will have to ease tensions between its drivers. Frédéric Vasseur, team director, promised discussions to resolve these differences. But with the announced departure of Carlos Sainz for Williams, unity seems difficult to restore.
In a context where Mercedes is establishing itself as the new dominant force, every point counts for Ferrari. But without cohesion, the Scuderia risks losing much more than just a constructors' championship.
