“What the F**k”: Charles Leclerc Furious Carlos Sainz Hits Him, Internal Issues With Fred Vasseur and Co. Surface

What would you do if you were sacked by your team despite putting in better performances than your teammate all year long? Furious and confused — for the most part. But the feeling of revenge? While Carlos Sainz doesn’t show it, and F1 is a cutthroat world, the Spaniard must be itching to put salt in Ferrari’s wounds to make them realize they made a mistake by letting him go. After the Chinese GP sprint, internal issues at Ferrari surfaced, as Frederic Vasseur needed to take quick action. 

Just a couple of days before the Chinese GP weekend, Frederic Vasseur came on a podcast and suggested that he had to favor Carlos Sainz over Charles Leclerc in some races for the benefit of the team. He gave the 2023 Singapore GP and 2024 Australian GP as some examples. But at the 2024 Chinese GP Sprint, there seemed to be no team orders, as both Ferrari drivers fought their hearts out on the track, going over the limit in doing so. 

Carlos Sainz was stuck behind Fernando Alonso for about half the race as he used his tires early to pass Verstappen. However, on lap 16, Sainz finally made his way past Alonso, but the 2X champ didn’t give up and dive-bombed his fellow countryman, causing a collision and, in turn, puncturing his tires and damaging Sainz’s car. This scrap allowed Sergio Perez to pass by with ease. After this, the problems began at Ferrari. 

Carlos Sainz had a damaged car but was still ahead of Charles Leclerc. However, he refused to let his teammates by and fought for the position a bit too hard. Both Ferrari drivers were at loggerheads, pushing the other outside the track limits. Amid all this, Charles Leclerc probably left his radio on and was heard on the radio swearing during the battle with Sainz as he said, “What the F**k.” Even in the post-race radio, Leclerc suggested that the team needed to talk as Sainz was fighting him more than others. 

Charles Leclerc has been beaten by Sainz in the last couple of races, and the Monegasque must be feeling the pressure, as Ferrari retained him and not Sainz. So Leclerc needs to lead the team and be the No. 1 driver, which he hasn’t been in Australia and Japan. Regardless, before the Chinese GP’s start, Leclerc accepted that Sainz had just been a better driver in the last two races. 

Charles Leclerc on Carlos Sainz’s recent form: “He’s doing a better job”

We know Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc share a great bond. At the start of the season, Sainz gifted Leclerc a soft toy that looked like a Chilli and asked the Monegasque to remember him by it when he’s gone next year. But as soon as the drivers get on track, they become rivals. Beating your teammate is the least a driver wants to do when they are out on the track. Charles Leclerc hasn’t been able to do that recently and suggests it is not him underperforming but Carlos Sainz doing a fantastic job.

During the Thursday press conference for the Chinese GP, Charles Leclerc said, “No, I think it’s as simple as he’s doing a better job. In Bahrain, it’s difficult to compare because on my side, I was facing issues, and I think it was a very strong weekend apart from that on my side. However, in the last two races, he’s just been stronger.” He later added, “For now I have been struggling more than what Carlos has done. He’s driving at a very high level, which I think is great for the team, it’s great for me as well.”

What did you make of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc scraping at the Chinese GP sprint? What will the team debrief be like? Will there be any team order for the main race?