On social media, there was a funny exchange between the two drivers from the Prancing Horse: from 2025, the Spaniard will make way for Lewis Hamilton.
Friends forever, teammates in Scuderia Ferrari until next year. Carlos Sainz’s final Formula 1 season with the Italian side, as he will be replaced by seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton from 2025, begins with an affectionate gesture towards Charles Leclerc, as evidenced by the video posted on social media by the Maranello-based team earlier today. “I want to give you this so you will remember me forever,” says the Spanish driver as he presents Charles Leclerc with a stress-relief gadget, which Charles describes as “something between a chili pepper and a… carrot.” “Come on, we’re only at the beginning of the season. It’s cute, but I’m not a very stressed type,” the Monegasque quips, eliciting laughter from his Ferrari teammate.
Meanwhile, the Ferrari car seem to have regained competitiveness compared to previous years and are capable of challenging Red Bull. In Bahrain, at the Sakhir circuit, the World Championship still begins with Max Verstappen securing pole position for the first Grand Prix of the season. However, the advantage over the pursuers appears to have slightly reduced compared to previous years.
“It’s a mix between a chili… and a carrot” 😅 @Carlossainz55 gifts his chili to @Charles_Leclerc 🙏 pic.twitter.com/4AHU2Xl4h0
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 2, 2024
Charles Leclerc secured the second position, trailing by 0.228 seconds, enough to unusually put pressure on the Dutch champion. The performance of the Monegasque driver is not an isolated flash: the Mercedes of George Russell and the other Ferrari SF-24 single-seater of Carlos Sainz also kept pace with the top two in the qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the 5.412 km Bahrain International Circuit located in Sakhir.
