Sainz reveals nuanced strategy when fighting Leclerc
Carlos Sainz reveals the careful balance he strikes when battling Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, weighing when to attack aggressively and when caution is required.
Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have formed one of the strongest partnerships on the Formula 1 grid since becoming teammates in 2021.
However, their on-track battles require careful management from Sainz, as he recently revealed in an interview with DAZN Spain.
Leclerc's pace forces compromise
While Sainz matched Leclerc early in their partnership, the Monegasque driver established himself as Ferrari’s lead driver in 2022.
Leclerc won three races to Sainz’s one and finished 62 points clear in the championship.
Yet Sainz hit back in 2023, scoring back-to-back pole positions in Italy and Singapore, converting the latter into his second career victory.
According to Sainz, Leclerc possesses prodigious one-lap speed and race craft, able to gain multiple positions off the start line.
"The ability he has on a single lap, the ability he has in the race to come back and gain positions at the start...We make a very good pair,” Sainz conceded.
Consequently, the Spaniard has adapted a nuanced approach when battling wheel-to-wheel with his teammate, balancing attack and caution.
“I try to bite when I have to bite and I try to control myself when I have to control myself,” Sainz revealed.
Prioritising team results
With Ferrari pushing hard to regain championship glory, having won just five races in the past decade, Sainz believes his partnership with Leclerc remains healthy.
“We make a very good pairing. I think we are two drivers who get on very well together," he affirmed.
Crucially, both drivers continue “pushing each other” while “always prioritis[ing] the team."
This team-first mentality fuels their constructive competition, benefitting Ferrari’s development.
The clock icks on new Ferrari contracts
2024 represents a pivotal year for Ferrari’s driver lineup, as both Sainz and Leclerc’s contracts expire at season’s end.
Leclerc appears close to finalising an estimated five-year contract extension. Meanwhile, Sainz pushes for a shorter two-year deal before Audi’s arrival in 2026 potentially reshuffles driver lineups.
For now, Sainz remains vocal about his desire to continue at Ferrari long-term.
But with 21 races to impress in 2024, his measured wheel-to-wheel approach alongside Leclerc may prove decisive if he hopes to secure another multi-year Ferrari contract.
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