Carlos Sainz was coming into the Japanese GP on the high of 2 pole positions & a stunning Singapore victory. Everyone thought maybe, just maybe the Smooth operator is becoming the top dog at Ferrari. Although, just as things restored to normalcy in Suzuka, Sainz seemed to be back at level with Charles. To top it up, it seems the Formula 1 Twitterverse has done it again! This weekend, after Charles Leclerc‘s commendable comeback performance, fans took to the platform to battle it out over Carlos Sainz’s position, all sparked by one tweet.

Taking center stage, @candeleclerc16 playfully jabbed, “Are people gonna say Sainz is washed for qualifying 3-tenths behind Charles or only applies when Charles is 0.007 behind?” A prompt nudge to the recent comments about Charles trailing behind Sainz, albeit only by 0.007 seconds. As per the ritual of Twitter’s rapid-fire response system, the reactions came flooding in.

Carlos Sainz, despite earlier fan controversies, didn’t let any chatter dampen his drive. He clinched the sixth spot in Q3, edging out the mighty Silver Arrows, although with a gap of 3 tenths behind Leclerc in fourth.

Charles Leclerc, who is no stranger to pushing his Ferrari to the limit, managed to secure a respectable fourth place for the Scuderia. However, there’s a cloud hanging over his achievement, as whispers of a potential penalty loom. The Monegasque driver faces scrutiny for failing to adhere to the minimum lap time in Q1. The final call will be a nail-biter for Tifosi around the world.

Read More: “He Has All It Takes to Become World Champion”: Carlos Sainz New Ferrari Favorite as Error-Prone Charles Leclerc Continues to Falter

But that was just not enough for the fans. Little did anyone expect that a seemingly innocuous comment on a 0.007-second difference would ignite a full-blown Twitter Grand Prix.

Fans and (the) Furious comments they made on Carlos Sainz & Charles Leclerc’s battle

Of course, there were those who came to (sarcastically) the defense of Sainz, stating, “Now we know why he said he wasn’t comfortable in the car… after spending the last two races saying the contrary 😅,” while others felt that Charles was just held to an unfairly high standard due to his immense popularity.

The recurring theme? Double standards. One fan rightly pointed out the disparity, saying, “The double standards are real… people will bash Charles for only being literally nothing behind Carlos or anyone else but it wouldn’t be the same way around.”

Another chimed in, emphasizing the high expectations set for Leclerc, “Standards are different for drivers of different calibre…problem is standards for Charles are higher than anyone.”

However, some tweets simply couldn’t resist the playful banter, including the lighthearted comment, “Sainz came pre-washed. He cannot be washed more anyway.” Yikes! Looks like this fan’s detergent is on full load.

But perhaps the most apt summary of the entire debate was one user’s succinct “we know this only works the other way around obviously 🙄,”

As the races continue and the tension heats up on the track, one thing’s for sure: the F1 fandom will never run out of fuel for debate! Whether you’re TeamCharles or TeamCarlos, remember, in the great words of someone out there, “Rivalries flare, but respect keeps the race fair!”😉

What do you think, who will finish higher at Suzuka – Sainz or Leclerc?

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