After several clashes throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season, it’s now officially war between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz after yet another conflict in Las Vegas.
In a crucial GP for the constructors’ championship, the two Ferrari drivers battled once again on the track (and in interviews), with the Monegasque clearly displeased by his teammate’s failure to follow team orders early in the second stint. This decision may have cost Ferrari the chance to at least finish ahead of one of the two Mercedes.
“There are things we agree on: today, they went differently,” said a visibly frustrated Charles Leclerc post-race, trying to avoid further controversy after his heated remarks over the radio.
Ferrari, high tension
When asked by Sky Sport about the incident on track, Carlos Sainz chose not to take the same approach as his teammate: “I don’t want to talk to the media, because if we speak here, it always looks like we’re causing a mess.”
“I agreed with him not to say anything to the media and to discuss privately what happened. These are matters between him and me. I never use the radio, I don’t talk to the media because I don’t like it. It’s not a nice thing to do, and it’s not necessary.”
The Spaniard added: “I don’t want to point fingers. This isn’t the time to make statements or analyze things. We need to look into it. I’d already been asking for two laps to pit because I knew Charles was coming up faster. I wanted to let him through, but I also wanted to get out of the way because Hamilton was catching up behind him.” – Carlos Sainz pointed out at the end of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“We didn’t pit. I stayed out for two more laps, and even on the lap I wanted to come in, there was a mess at the pit entry, and things didn’t go well. They didn’t go well for me or for Charles. It wasn’t a good situation, and it wasn’t easy or simple to manage. That’s how it went, which is why I’d rather analyze it later and not speak here in front of the microphones.” – the future Williams driver concluded.
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