Ferrari’s turbulent season took another dramatic turn at the Las Vegas Grand Prix as tensions flared between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, leaving both drivers – and the team – far from satisfied.
“Leclerc’s Radio Rage”
Charles Leclerc’s frustration spilled over after the race, unleashing a fiery tirade on team radio. The Monegasque driver, who had been overtaken by teammate Carlos Sainz during the second round of pit stops, accused Ferrari of undermining him.
Leclerc: “I did my job but being nice fs me over all the fing time, all the f***ing time.”
Leclerc’s anger was rooted in a series of missteps, including Sainz’s defiance of team orders and the apparent lack of strategic clarity during a critical phase of the race.
“Sainz Fires Back”
Carlos Sainz, however, had his own grievances, particularly with Ferrari’s pit strategy—or lack thereof. The Spaniard argued that delays in boxing him compounded the confusion, leaving him vulnerable and forcing him to fight both Leclerc and other rivals.
Sainz: “I asked the team two or three times to box me, to get me out of the way… For some reason, we didn’t box. By the time I was going to box, then we didn’t even box.”
While Sainz managed to secure a podium finish, he admitted the team fell short of expectations.
Sainz: “I think no one’s happy today in the team because we all expected a bit more. I’m on the podium, so at least I got that for the team. But I don’t think we could have finished much better than P3 and P4 today.”
“Vasseur Steps In to Calm the Storm”
Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur acknowledged the tensions and pledged to address the internal strife during post-race debriefs.
Vasseur: “We have to avoid fighting, but at this stage, I think it’s more about the management side. The situation was really difficult for everybody, and we will discuss it tonight—it won’t be an issue.”
“The Bigger Picture: Ferrari’s Struggle to Find Harmony”
The Las Vegas GP encapsulated Ferrari’s ongoing battle to balance its ambitious drivers while grappling with operational inconsistencies. Despite securing P3 and P4, the race highlighted deeper issues within the team’s strategy and communication.
As Ferrari prepares for the final races of the season, all eyes will be on how Vasseur and his team manage their star drivers and whether they can restore harmony within the Scuderia—or risk further unraveling in the high-pressure world of Formula 1.
