Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc finished the 2024 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix in an underwhelming fifth place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the SF-24 cars lacking the pace to contend for the podium against Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren. His sole bright moment came in the closing laps when, on softer tires, he closed in on George Russell, falling short by just 0.389 seconds and needing just one more lap to overtake the Mercedes W15 car. However, that wasn’t his only notable moment in the Barcelona race.
Earlier, teammate Carlos Sainz made a bold move on the outside into the first turn, making light contact and snatching fifth place from the Monegasque driver. Charles Leclerc eventually regained the position thanks to strategy, as Carlos Sainz struggled with the hard tire, which performed poorly for almost everyone. Despite this, Charles Leclerc was left with a bitter taste, feeling aggrieved by being raced so aggressively by his Maranello teammate — and, he hinted, against team orders.
The tension between the two Ferrari drivers has been simmering all year. Carlos Sainz, aware that he is being replaced in Maranello by Lewis Hamilton starting with the next Formula 1 season, is focused solely on his own performance.
Although he has three concrete offers for 2025, from Audi, Williams and Alpine, neither team is likely to compete for podiums and victories in 2025, making Carlos Sainz eager to maximize his opportunities with the Italian side this season.
Charles Leclerc understood Carlos Sainz’s predicament but still felt the move was too aggressive for an intra-team battle.
Italian journalist Leo Turrini, known for his connections within Ferrari, commented on the mishap of the Maranello team, specifically between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, during the Spanish Grand Prix, on the show Race Anatomy.
Leo Turrini’s opinion
These are the journalist’s comments on the matter: “Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz reminded me of Renzo’s chickens from The Betrothed (Italian historical novel by Alessandro Manzoni), pecking at each other, ignoring the fact that they would end up in the pot.” – the Formula 1 expert explained.
“All this noise of accusations and responses is for a fifth place, which is what makes it embarrassing and depressing. If they were fighting with a Ferrari competing to win, you would accept it, but like this, well…” – he added – “Carlos Sainz seemed a bit too whiny on the radio, even with Lewis Hamilton. Maybe he felt the pressure of his home race, not very brilliant today.”
“The statements of the Ferrari drivers are diametrically opposed, good luck to Fred Vasseur! Even Charles Leclerc clearly alluding to Carlos Sainz’s contract situation, while the other responds that he’s not there to be behind all his life… It really is tough,” concluded Leo Turrini.
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