“Come On!!!”: Charles Leclerc Left Fuming as Carlos Sainz Attempts Another Sly Move On Teammate

Ferrari is playing a losing game at this point. They are known for horrible race strategies. And on days that are not Sundays, drivers make mistakes that cost the team. At Silverstone, Carlos Sainz had a difference of opinion with the team over the Qualifying strategy. Eventually, he went to defy the team orders which drew an irritatedly sarcastic comment from Charles Leclerc. And in Qualifying in Hungary, Sainz has again done something that has left Leclerc fuming on the team radio.

“Nice Carlos, nice. Good overtake in last corner,” said a fed-up Leclerc at Silverstone after Sainz passed him defying team orders. In Q2, the team’s plan was to let Leclerc be ahead of Sainz so that he could get a better lap. Before the Out Lap, in the pit lane itself, Sainz had expressed his displeasure about the decision. But after the Out Lap, when both the cars made their way to the last corner, Sainz defied team orders and overtook Leclerc to start his flying lap.

Then, the Spaniard had given an explanation saying that he, being in P4 was more in danger of getting knocked out than his teammate, in P3. So he followed the popular saying – “Every man for himself.” But in Hungary, his actions in Q2 have no excuse or explanation. When Leclerc was on his flying lap, Sainz, in front on a slow lap, almost shunted him by coming too close to the racing line.

Let’s stay calm but come on! I don’t know if you’ve seen that but it’s borderline,” said Leclerc on the team radio after he got impeded by his teammate. With the tensions running high within the team, there seems to be a cold war brewing within the team. One that is not ideal for progressing forward, let alone holding the same position in the Championship.

But that was not the biggest disappointment within the team. The Maranello team’s woes increased in a Qualifying session where midfield teams did better than them.

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Ferrari Worsen In the Hungarian Qualifying as Charles Leclerc Out-Qualifies Carlos Sainz

The Maranello Outfit is probably having the most depressing first half of the season in the last few years. Previously they had the car which was quick but the management decision let them down. Now along with the poor decision-making, the SF-23 too is looking slow compared to their rivals, Mercedes, Red Bull, and now, even McLaren.

In the Qualifying at Hungaroring, there were drivers from 8 different teams in Q3. The most diverse qualifying yet. While Charles Leclerc was one of those 10, Carlos Sainz got eliminated in Q2 in P11. Eventually, the Monegasque too couldn’t get a good result. He could only manage P6. The bigger surprise for him was the Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu who out-qualified him, securing P5.

The following question might sound too harsh. But is it the end of 2023 for Ferrari? With so many teams fighting closely for points, do you think Sainz can make up a few places, getting the team a double-points finish, at least?

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