Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is sure that competing side-by-side in the second-fastest vehicle on the Formula 1 grid won’t negatively impact his friendship with teammate Carlos Sainz. The driver from Monaco proposed that the team’s performance was the most important factor out of all of them.
Important lessons learned:
Although he is racing side by side in the second fastest car on the grid, Charles Leclerc is convinced he can keep a positive relationship with colleague Carlos Sainz.
Sainz is under intense scrutiny for his performance in his last season at Ferrari, especially because Lewis Hamilton is expected to join the team, as he looks to lock down a spot for the following season.
Sainz’s daring pass of Leclerc in the Bahrain Grand Prix sets up a thrilling race, and Leclerc emphasizes the value of putting Ferrari’s interests first and taking no excessive risks on the track. Leclerc highlights the strength of their friendship through open communication and respect for one another in spite of the rivalry.
t’s interesting to watch how Sainz is approaching his last season because he stated that he wants to focus on his performance in order to increase his chances of earning a spot when Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton takes over in the following year.
Furthermore, there have been concerns about Sainz and Leclerc’s friendship, especially following their close race in Bahrain, where Sainz made a risky drive to pass Leclerc at turn one on Lap 11. This move set up a furious battle between the two drivers through the first few turns, with Sainz finishing third behind both Red Bulls.
Leclerc reiterated to the media that Ferrari is the top priority for both drivers, though. He declared:
“We always strive to compete at the very limit, but we must always remember that Ferrari comes first and we cannot take unwarranted chances.
We had a lot of problems to handle, so I wasn’t really in a position to fight effectively. However, at the end of the day, there needs to be balance, and occasionally we might push the boundaries and act a little too aggressively.
Regarding his partnership with Sainz, he continued, saying:
I don’t recall a single instance where it got to the point where there was a disagreement between us, but we have discussed and resolved issues in the past when we have competed together.
“I have no doubt that it is a good thing and should remain that way.
We have a great connection outside of the car, so we talk about this a lot and are really honest and upfront with each other.
