The tension between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had been brewing since Scuderia Ferrari officially announced the signing of Lewis Hamilton, and it took five GPs to see the first sparks. Due to a somewhat risky move by the Spaniard against the Monegasque in the Sprint Race, tempers flared, and number 16 seemed to return the favor during the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.
At the moment, everything is within the bounds of competition, so nothing alarming.
The delicate issues lie elsewhere, as former Scuderia Ferrari driver Jean Alesi emphasized in his recent article for the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera: “In China, we got a sense of the difficulties Ferrari is facing at this stage of the Championship. Quite a few, if we consider the qualifying and Gran Prix data. The points obtained, therefore, I believe are valuable aiming to secure the second final position, considering McLaren’s progress and Red Bull’s invulnerability.” – the Frenchman explained.
“The car needs improvement, and so does communication. It’s a topic for Fred Vasseur since the presentation of the 2023 car when there was talk of a phenomenal machine: the discussions before and after the races must reflect reality and be in line with the results achieved on the track. Another issue emerged in China that, in my opinion, requires clarity. I’m referring to the relationship between the two Ferrari drivers. Carlos Sainz is a true gentleman; I’m certain he will never do anything against the team. But he understandably needs to play every card he has, and he’s in a position to do so. On the other hand, Charles Leclerc must give his all to assert himself in the role of leader, and when he finds himself behind Carlos, he’s compelled to push. It seems inevitable to me. The two drivers, let it be clear, are not allies; they are opponents, albeit with respect for the team’s objectives.” – Jean Alesi concluded.
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