Rewinding the events which took place in the early months of 2020, during the days when the separation from Sebastian Vettel and the subsequent arrival in Ferrari of Carlos Sainz was announced, there were two phrases that were heard most often from the mouth of Ferrari fans: “It would have been better to sig Daniel Ricciardo better” and “We took a second driver for Charles Leclerc”.
Today, with just two races until the end of the 2021 Formula 1 season and Carlos Sainz’s first year alongside Scuderia Ferrari as a driver, both statements seem timeless. On cars that are comparable in terms of performance and both in the uncomfortable role of newcomers, Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo are separated by 40.5 points, to the advantage of the Spanish driver.
But not only. The duel inside the Ferrari garage with Charles Leclerc also took a surprisingly balanced turn. Of course, the Monegasque driver was more unfortunate with the retirements and still remains ahead in the ‘head to head’ stats both in qualifying and in the race. But his margin over Carlos Sainz is just 6.5 points. A trifle, which opens the doors to an interesting and unexpected derby in these last two Grands Prix. No one would ever admit it to Ferrari, but a driver classification with the former McLaren ahead of the native of the Principality would be no small surprise. The extremely positive aspect is that the confrontation between the two is keeping on the tracks of healthy rivalry, which is improving the drivers directly involved and leveling up the team.
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Even the general newspapers have now noticed this interesting head-to-head, as confirmed by the article by Mario Salvini published in the Gazzetta dello Sport. “[…] Charles versus Carlos is a good theme. Sainz at the beginning of the season had wisely suggested postponing it until there is a real prize at stake […]. And Binotto himself […] said with a certain irony that he couldn’t wait to give some team orders […]. The team principal […], speaking of Leclerc, said: “We have invested in him for the long term because we are convinced that he will become World Champion” […]. But it is clear that Sainz also gave a strong and clear signal in his first year in the red. […]. And regardless of where he ends up, he has shown that he is not outdone, that he cannot be relegated to the role of second driver. He has therefore already won his championship in a certain sense. […]. The coup, unthinkable at the beginning of the season, is possible. But in any case, Carlos has already consolidated his role in the team in view of a 2022 in which it is hoped that there will be many other struggles to tell […] ”.
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