Giorgio Terruzzi feels "Charles Leclerc is now lead driver and Carlos Sainz wants to leave"

Motorsport journalist Giorgio Terruzzi has analyzed what was seen at Ferrari during the Austrian Grand Prix. In particular, the journalist focused on the early battle between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz when the Spaniard, who seemed faster, tried to communicate to the Maranello team that he should be allowed to pass. In response, the Italian side decided to freeze the hierarchy, telling the Monegasque driver that his teammate would not overtake him.

Number 55 was disappointed with this incident, as well as with the timing of the first pit stop under the Safety Car, which he did not want. And this choice could be the result of a much more significant decision made in Maranello, which goes beyond a simple race.

“From the Grand Prix, it seems evident to me that Ferrari has made an internal hierarchical choice in favor of Charles Leclerc. I say this not only because for two consecutive races the message has been not to fight between teammates, which is understandable because Leclerc started ahead of Sainz and it’s not certain that the latter really had a better pace. However, it is quite remarkable that they denied Carlos Sainz the opportunity to stay out on track during the Virtual Safety Car,” said Giorgio Terruzzi in his podcast.

“Carlos Sainz can’t take it anymore”

Having a project centered around Charles Leclerc seemed like a logical choice for years, as dominant teams have done, most recently Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull with Max Verstappen. Yet, it took the “threat” of a possible departure of the 25-year-old from Monte Carlo to finally make the decision. “Regardless of what is said in the media, Charles Leclerc is now the lead driver. Since the rumors, completely fabricated, came out that the Monegasque driver would go to Mercedes, Fred Vasseur said that the young driver was central to Ferrari’s future project, and this was the first investment,” the journalist continued.

And the person who is currently suffering the most from this is the one on the other side of the garage. “From Carlos Sainz’s face after the Grand Prix, you could see that he can’t take it anymore and would like to find a new placement so as not to be the second fiddle. He will have to endure, and all this will influence his negotiation. It’s quite curious, though, because the Spaniard is also ahead in the championship,” Giorgio Terruzzi concluded.