Carlos Sainz Will “Race Harder and Listen Less” as Rivalry With Charles Leclerc Unfolds

The 2024 Grand Prix in Bahrain was an electrifying race, pulsating with anticipation as Carlos Sainz drove with a fire in his eyes and took the track with supreme intensity. Scuderia Ferrari kicked off its season with the Spaniard securing third place and Charles Leclerc in fourth. Compared to last year, the gap to the front has decreased, and the SF-24 showcased a promising starting point in its current configuration.

The 2024 world championship already looks wrapped up as Max Verstappen is in prime position to secure his fourth consecutive title. Although the Dutchman was leading the race, spectators were on the edge of their seats as the dynamic duo of Ferrari engaged in a heart-stopping battle, going wheel-to-wheel on the track in this season opener. During the NOS Formula 1 review, presenter Jeroen Stomphorst sat down with analysts Jeroen Bleekemolen and Jan Lammers to break down the season opener.

Carlos Sainz’s intense racing and battle against teammate

After being rejected by Ferrari, the Spaniard had to prove his worth to his team and showcase his skills to get into the top teams in 2025. Early in the race, a 29-year-old swiftly overtook his teammate and maintained his position. Taking advantage of George Russell’s power issues, he secured his first 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix podium by claiming his first podium of the season. Although he initially suffered setbacks, dropping back during the first lap and losing ground to Perez; he didn’t let it deter him as he showcased incredible competitiveness and overtook Leclerc.

During the review, as quoted by F1 Maximaal, Bleekemolen said about Sainz, “He’s going to race a little harder and listen less.” However, the analysts predicted Charles Leclerc to be better than Sainz over the course of the season. They highlighted the brake issue which haunted the Monegasque during the race. “Leclerc had a braking problem, we mustn’t forget that. There was a hundred degrees difference between left and right. That causes one brake to work better than the other, causing the car to act crazy.”

The Ferrari drivers narrowly escaped colliding with each other as the Spaniard tried to overtake his teammate, creating a tense moment on the track. Lammers predicted that the 29-year-old driver will have the advantage more often during his last year at Ferrari.“He has something to prove,” Bleekemolen agreed with his NOS colleague.

Charles Leclerc’s Bahrain GP rollercoaster and drive for victory

Charles Leclerc unveiled that his Ferrari F1 car experienced a temperature split of “over 100 degrees” between the front right and left brakes, causing lock-ups during the Bahrain Grand Prix. During the 2024 F1 opener, the Ferrari driver frequently experienced front-tyre lock-ups, leading him to plummet from 2nd to finish in fourth place. 26-year-old man, initially anticipated to challenge Red Bull closely, revealed that the issue emerged immediately from the start but only became manageable on laps 15 or 20. He said to Motorsport.com, “I was obviously basing my braking for Turn 9-10 with the previous lap, which obviously fell too late all the time, but the issue was getting a lot worse.”

The Frenchman also noted that it was the first time he encountered the brake problem with the SF-24 and stated that Ferrari would look into the matter after the weekend to assess if a permanent solution is required before the Saudi Arabian GP. He added, “But I’m very disappointed with the results. I honestly think that second place would have been very possible today.” 

Read More: F1 Insider Exposes Charles Leclerc’s Biggest Flaw That Made Carlos Sainz the Better Ferrari Driver

However, Carlos Sainz’s jaw-dropping performance left many stunned. According to speculation, Carlos Sainz Jr. bagged third place because Charles Leclerc suffered from brake issues. What are your thoughts on this?