Carlos Sainz has declared his willingness to assist his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc if the team calls for it, though the Spaniard is skeptical that such a scenario will unfold. With six races remaining, including three Sprint events, Sainz has struggled to match Leclerc’s performance, accumulating only 28 points since the season resumed—far behind Leclerc’s 58-point haul. This gap has widened Sainz’s deficit in the Drivers’ Championship, placing him 55 points behind Leclerc, who remains Ferrari’s outside hope for a title run.
Sainz’s recent form has been a source of frustration, but he’s still committed to the Ferrari cause. While Leclerc lies in third place, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by 34 points and Max Verstappen by a commanding 86 points, Sainz remains realistic about Ferrari’s chances. Asked if Ferrari had broached the topic of team orders, Sainz said, “If the team one day asks me to do so, I’ve always been a team player and I will [do it].”
Leclerc’s Slim Title Chances, Ferrari’s Tough Reality
Leclerc, who has managed three podiums and a win at Monza since the summer break, is still mathematically in the hunt, but even he acknowledges that Ferrari’s SF-24 doesn’t have the raw speed to snatch the title from Red Bull and Verstappen. Ferrari has narrowed the gap to Red Bull to 34 points in the Constructors’ Championship, but a disappointing performance in Singapore widened the gap to McLaren to a daunting 75 points.
Leclerc knows the challenge ahead is significant but remains hopeful Ferrari can capitalize on mistakes by its rivals. “I don’t see ourselves too much in the fight, but if they make mistakes, we might end up in the fight like we are now,” Leclerc remarked. While he believes Ferrari can stay consistent and pounce on errors, he doesn’t see the team’s pure pace as enough to truly battle for the Constructors’ title.
Sainz’s Role and Ferrari’s Final Push
As the season winds down, Ferrari finds itself caught between optimism and pragmatism. Sainz has expressed his willingness to support Leclerc if necessary, but with the gap to Verstappen and Red Bull so large, team orders seem unlikely to play a significant role. Ferrari will bring one last upgrade to the Austin Grand Prix, but both drivers are aware that closing the gap to their rivals may require more than just minor tweaks.
With Ferrari battling to stay competitive, both Sainz and Leclerc know that the coming races are crucial for their team’s position in the Constructors’ standings. Whether or not Ferrari’s remaining push will be enough to close the gap to McLaren and Red Bull remains to be seen, but for Sainz, his role as a team player may be tested in the final stages of the season.
