Carlos Sainz has pushed back against claims that his friendship with his Maranello teammate Charles Leclerc is merely for show, expressing disappointment over such speculation. The Spaniard, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the season to join Williams for 2025, emphasized the authenticity of their bond. Carlos Sainz’s departure paves the way for Lewis Hamilton to partner with the Monegasque driver at Ferrari next season.
The Spanish driver joined Ferrari in 2021 after an impressive run with McLaren, where his standout performances and podium finishes earned him a seat with the prestigious Scuderia. Over four seasons with Ferrari, Carlos Sainz secured four victories and contributed to some memorable moments, including several 1-2 finishes alongside Charles Leclerc. While neither driver achieved a championship title during their time as teammates, their partnership has yielded plenty of on-track success and competitive synergy.
Despite their achievements, rumors have persisted suggesting that the camaraderie between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc differs from the close relationship presented in public. Addressing these claims at the Qatar Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz firmly dismissed the speculation, emphasizing that their connection is genuine. Speaking to various media outlets, the 30-year-old clarified that their relationship is built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to the team.
Looking ahead to his new chapter with Williams, the Spaniard said he will always take pride in the friendship he has built with the Monegasque, regardless of the narratives circulating outside the paddock. Reflecting on their years together at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz expressed gratitude for the positive moments they shared, both on and off the track, and reiterated his respect for his soon-to-be former teammate.
“I sometimes keep seeing, on social media, that people believe it’s not true and it’s all PR. Honestly, it disappoints me, because people cannot sometimes understand that we have a professional relationship. And in that professional relationship, we go through ups and downs. As competitive as we are, we’re always going to have some issues on track because, again, if he would be P1 and I would be P8 or vice versa, we would never have issues,” the future Williams driver explained in an interview ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.
The professional dynamic between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc faced a significant test during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as Ferrari endured a particularly challenging weekend. Despite the difficulties, the Spaniard has expressed a preference for this type of competitive environment, where their partnership is put to the test under pressure: “But unfortunately, or let’s say fortunately for the team, we’re always at the same point on track, and we’re having our little issues here and there. But then we also have a personal relationship. And as much as the professional one goes through ups and downs, the personal one, I can tell you, it’s always been really, really good”. – Carlos Sainz pointed out.
“He’s one of those guys that I know in the future when I’m not in Formula One, I’ll look back and say, ‘I’m glad I met him and I’m glad I raced with him and I’m glad I can have a lot of good memories with him.’ In these four years in Ferrari, I’ve enjoyed every single moment with him. Even the tough ones, as much as they’ve been tough, I’m pretty sure in 20/30 years I’ll laugh about them and look back and be proud of what we’ve achieved together,” the Ferrari man concluded.
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