Teammate rivalry is spreading like wildfire in the world of Formula 1. The sport is immersed in drama, from the crumbling Alpine to the outperforming younger teammates, we have all the genres. Although the F1 ‘silly season’ was rather monotonous, the unfolding theatrics between the teammates are worth spending 100 bucks on popcorn and soda. There is not only the fast-paced thriller action, but the slow burn at Ferrari is selling out quicker.

The story starts with two friends. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Sainz is known to get on with everyone he is paired with, so a friendship with the young Monagasque was not surprising when the Spaniard joined the Ferrari in 2021. Things at the Italian front were calm until the day came for the British Grand Prix 2022. Sainz was on pole for the race. And he successfully transformed it into his maiden Formula 1 victory. But that came with stringent criticism and bashlack from fans who felt Leclerc deserved the win. The message was clear, “Back off from the golden boy.”

Is this the beginning of a Rosberg-Hamilton-esque rivalry? Ferrari men say, “No.” But the constant pull and push on the tracks say otherwise. Fans of the sport and the team have often asked to clarify, “Who is the number 1 driver? Every team has one but not Ferrari.” According to Frederic Vasseur, they don’t have a number 1 driver. Equal machinery, therefore equal treatment. Simple as that. Yet, despite that, fans are often left feeling second-hand betrayal for their favorite driver. Some days it’s Carlos Sainz, like in Austria, when he had more pace, yet was told to hold off. In other races, it’s Charles Leclerc, who wanted a tow in Australia from his teammate but didn’t get any.

On Saturday during the Qatar Sprint race, Ferrari let out their drivers on softs. After three safety car interventions, the cars on softs seemed to be falling apart and so were the men in red. Leclerc, boldly tried to make a pass on Sainz, to which David Coulthard said, “That was slightly desperate.”

“Wants to beat…” – Fans want Carlos Sainz to stop stealing the Leclerc’s thunder

But Twitter is a free space. Fans did not wait for a second to make it known that Sainz should have let Leclerc pass contrary to what DC believed. The master of the strategy was accused of being selfish.

Sainz has been consistent throughout the season. Currently, he has 153 points in the standings. Unfortunately for him, he qualified only P12 for the Qatar Grand Prix after exiting in Q2. Fans believe that it is Karma.

Naturally, the Tifosi won’t want to see such intra-team battles that potentially cause the team’s loss. They would have had “enough” of seeing Sainz & Leclerc stepping on each other’s toes.

Wouldn’t world affairs be in order and world peace long-established if things could be settled over a game of ‘rock paper scissors’ or bingo? You bet.

READ MORE: Carlos Sainz Vents Frustration at “Nervous” Ferrari After Charles Leclerc Surprisingly Outclasses Him

Track limits were a huge talking point during the sprint race at Lusail International Circuit. The lap deletions were reminiscent of the much-debated Austrian Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc was one of the two drivers who received a 5-second penalty for exceeding track limits during the sprint. This did not go unnoticed by fans either as they rushed to Sainz’s defence.

Carlos Sainz was on pole for the fourth time in his Formula 1 career at Monza. But the Spaniard could not convert his pole into a win, as Max Verstappen was charging at him like an angry Bull. He tumbled down, although not far, to third. But his bid to finish at least P3 could have ended as Leclerc almost crashed into him while attacking. And Sainz’s fans remember.

Twitter is buzzing with the fans of the two playing constant defense and offense. One more race, one more qualifying, one more tweet, they are all adding fuel to an already consuming fire of, “Who is the number 1 driver at Ferrari?”

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Come tomorrow, if Ferrari does decide to have a number 1 driver, who do you think should be that? Carlos Sainz? Charles Leclerc? or maybe, a new talent?