Ferrari finished the race in Spain in fifth and sixth place. Charles Leclerc was only a few tenths away from fourth place. With one more lap, the Monegasque would probably have been fourth. He could have lost the necessary time behind his own Formula 1 team-mate. The two Ferraris were in a duel in the first few laps. Carlos Sainz overtook Leclerc in turn one. But that was not what was agreed upon.
Charles Leclerc: Sainz did not stick to Ferrari strategy
The strategy of the two Ferraris at the start of the race was clear. The Mercedes drivers in front of them attacked because the pace of the cars was similar. “We had a clear strategy at the start of the race. We both had to save our tires so that we could attack later,” reports Leclerc.
At the start of the race, the cars from position two to six (Norris to Leclerc) were driving closely behind each other. “Carlos, however, didn’t spare me at all in turn 14 and then of course had the opportunity to overtake me in turn one,” said Leclerc.
According to the Monegasque, Sainz did not follow the team’s instructions. “It’s a bit of a shame because we both lost time. I damaged my front wing because Carlos drove it without seeing that I was on the inside,” explains Leclerc.
“I just don’t understand the point of doing that when it was clearly agreed beforehand that we should hold back in this part of the race.” Sainz, on the other hand, sees the whole thing much more relaxed. “He often complains about something after the race,” said the Spaniard.
Leclerc: Sainz probably wanted to show something spectacular at his home race
Sainz probably doesn’t care about Leclerc’s complaints. The Spaniard is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season and will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton. He has not yet signed with a new team.
“It’s unnecessary, but I understand it, also because it’s his home race and also an important time in his career. He probably wanted to try something spectacular, but I wasn’t the right person for it,” said Leclerc.
Later on, the Monegasque regained the position against his teammate. But Leclerc had to take a back seat for the entire first and second stint. It was only in the last stint that Leclerc, on fresh soft tires, regained the position against Sainz. But Russell was missing those few tenths.
“We had problems in the high-speed corners this weekend, a little more than I expected. Parts for this could come before the summer break, but I don’t know exactly when,” reports Leclerc.