Few drivers have had a better opportunity to understand Charles Leclerc’s personality than Carlos Sainz. The two spent four Formula 1 seasons together at Ferrari, sharing the same garage from 2021 until the end of the 2024 campaign before Lewis Hamilton arrived at Maranello and Carlos Sainz moved to Williams.
During those years, the pair developed one of the most respected teammate relationships on the grid. While they often pushed each other to the limit on track, they also spent countless hours together away from racing, giving Carlos Sainz a unique perspective on what drives Charles Leclerc.
In a recently shared video, the Spanish driver offered a revealing insight into the Ferrari star’s mentality, describing his former teammate as perhaps the most competitive person he has ever encountered.
Carlos Sainz explained:
“He’s super competitive! We were playing chess, for example, on airplanes and he used to get really, really upset when he lost. On track, he also was very competitive. Yeah, I think he’s the most competitive.”
The anecdote may sound light-hearted, but it highlights a characteristic that has defined Charles Leclerc throughout his racing career. Whether competing in karting, Formula 1 or even a simple game of chess during travel between races, the Monegasque has built a reputation for constantly pushing himself to be the best.
That competitive mindset has often been visible during race weekends. Charles Leclerc is known for his relentless pursuit of performance, frequently demanding more from himself and from those around him whenever results fall short of expectations. It is one of the qualities that helped him rise through the junior categories and ultimately become Ferrari’s long-term leader.
Former teammates often provide some of the most valuable insights into a driver’s character because they witness aspects of their personality that fans rarely get to see. In this case, Carlos Sainz’s comments suggest that Charles Leclerc approaches everything as a competition, regardless of whether the challenge takes place behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car or across a chessboard during a flight.
The relationship between the two drivers was particularly notable because of the level of competition inside Ferrari. Throughout their four seasons together, both regularly challenged each other in qualifying and races, helping push the Scuderia forward during a period of rebuilding and development.
Even after leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, Carlos Sainz has continued to speak positively about his former teammate. His latest comments offer fans another glimpse into the determination and intensity that have made Charles Leclerc one of the standout drivers of his generation.
For Ferrari supporters, the story will probably come as little surprise. After all, the same competitive spirit that made Charles Leclerc frustrated by losing a game of chess is the one that continues to drive him in his pursuit of Formula 1 success.
Watch Carlos Sainz explain why he considers Charles Leclerc the most competitive driver he has ever known in the video below.
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