Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fourth and fifth in the 2024 Chinese GP. The duo has performed well throughout the season, with Sainz securing three podiums and a victory at the Australian GP. However, the weekend in China did not go as planned due to multiple collisions between them, resulting in the loss of valuable points.
The Chinese GP was a challenging race for Ferrari, with the possibility of their drivers colliding becoming a reality at the Shanghai Circuit. Sainz and Leclerc collided for the first time during the qualifying race, which had a negative impact on the team. On race day, Leclerc forced Sainz off the track in the early corners, causing both to lose positions.
The incidents between the two drivers increased the workload during the race. After being pushed off the track by Leclerc, Sainz and Leclerc found themselves behind slower competitors. This resulted in the loss of time and valuable points in the constructors’ standings.
Sainz was expected to be the lead driver for Ferrari in the Chinese Grand Prix, but a difficult qualifying session and strong competition from his teammate made the race challenging for him. Despite finishing fifth, Sainz acknowledged that it was the best result he could achieve given the circumstances.
Sainz expressed his disappointment with the performance of the SF-24 car. He believed that the entry of the safety car disrupted his race strategy, forcing them to take risks with a one-stop strategy to maintain their position on the track. Leclerc faced similar challenges.
Sainz admitted that he and Leclerc need to improve and avoid collisions to maximize their points in the upcoming Grand Prix weekends. However, the rivalry between the two drivers remains unresolved and is expected to intensify in the upcoming races.
