Will Carlos Sainz End Up a ‘Seat Warmer’ Beside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari? F1 Fans Spark Gripping Debate

Apr 20, 2022 | 5:08 AM EDT

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Ferrari is flying at the moment with their spectacular run in the 2022 season. The Prancing Horses need to give credit to their excellent drivers for this phenomenal run, especially Charles Leclerc, who won two out of the three races. But Leclerc’s dominance has raised doubts about his teammate Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard joined the Italian F1 team last season after a two-year stint with McLaren. Fans expected Sainz and Leclerc to be on the same level, but the Monegasque has been ahead of Sainz with his performance. So, fans now doubt if Sainz can even win races with Leclerc outperforming him. This doubt has also led to banters and debates between fans about whether Sainz is just a second driver for Ferrari.

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Carlos Sainz is NOT just a seat warmer. He is SO much better than that. He is capable of winning races and championships in that Ferrari. Just give him time, and he will prove you all wrong. pic.twitter.com/gcId7liUyn
— oshillex 🐝 ➐ (@oshillex) April 19, 2022

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As long as Leclerc is at Ferrari, Sainz is not winning a WDC https://t.co/C3gbN6MteT
— drag dem bumbaclaaat to hell (@rayxkilli) April 19, 2022

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i hope so for him, if not he failed harder under pressure then gasly and albon together
— bettersebo🏎 (@BetterSebo) April 19, 2022

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How can he win a championship if he can’t even beat his teammate.
— 🍩skie_wubz🔜Sonic Bloom (@Oskar_h87) April 19, 2022

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He’s had so much bad luck in Australia and that accumulated to him making silly decisions .
That is so unlike him, he will bounce back.
He showed he can keep up with Leclerc , if not faster
— Vaishach (@Vaishach) April 20, 2022

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I support Ferrari and not either driver but Carlos really needs to pull his socks up. I love the guy and super glad he did so well last year but in a few races if he keeps only getting podiums and not race wins, it’ll force Ferrari’s hand and back Charles and focus on him
— Alex (@Ferrari_16_55) April 19, 2022

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Carlos Sainz and Ferrari are discussing a new contract

Sainz is enjoying his time in the Maranello base, but his contract would end by the end of the 2022 season. As of now, both parties are negotiating a new contract, but the terms differ at the moment.

The 27-year-old Spaniard demands a two-year-long contract. Meanwhile, Ferrari is opting for a one-year extension with the option to extend it for another season depending on the performance. It would enable Ferrari to look into the driver’s market in 2024 if Sainz cannot impress. But for Sainz, staying in Ferrari gets harder as fans are already seeing him as just a second driver.

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Although a few months back, team principal Mattia Binotto expressed his joy at working with Sainz and wanted him to stay beyond 2022. He said, “We are both happy with the situation and want to continue working together.”

Sainz helped Ferrari win two out of the five podiums in the last three races. But the Spaniard couldn’t outperform his teammate and his DNF at Melbourne gave rise to the opinion of him being just a ‘seat warmer’ next to Leclerc. So, Sainz needs to pull up his socks and showcase to the Maranello base why he deserves the seat.

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The next race is in Imola, which is also the home race for Ferrari. So, all eyes would be on Sainz and Leclerc in that race. Do you think Carlos Sainz can beat his teammate in the Emilia Romagna GP?