The Las Vegas Grand Prix proved to be a combustible affair for Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz found themselves at odds over strategy and team orders. While Sainz claimed a podium finish in third, Leclerc was left fuming on team radio, unleashing a tirade that highlighted simmering tensions within the Scuderia.
“The Incident: When Respect Cost Leclerc”
Leclerc’s frustrations boiled over after a second pit stop drama that saw him overtaken by his teammate, despite instructions from the team that Sainz would hold position. Leclerc had been in contention for a podium but lost ground after what he described as being “too respectful” in handling his teammate.
“Yes, whatever you want as always,” Leclerc snapped over team radio after being told he had done a good job. “Yeah I did my job, but being nice fs me over all the fing time. It’s not even being nice, it’s just being respectful. I know I need to shut up but at one point it’s always the same. Oh my f***ing God.”
The outburst didn’t end there, with Leclerc sarcastically replying to reminders to collect tire pickup: “Yeah, yeah, f*ing pick-up what the fk you want.”
“Sainz’s Perspective: Frustration in Victory”
Sainz, while thrilled with his podium finish, admitted dissatisfaction with how Ferrari managed the race strategy. He argued that delays in pitting him cost both drivers valuable time and exacerbated the intra-team tensions.
“I think he grained the medium tires, and I managed to get ahead before the pit stop,” Sainz explained. “Then I did grain my hards, and he was coming quick behind me. I was anticipating the team asking me to let him by because he was quicker at the time.
“I asked the team two or three times to box me, to get me out of the way, and get me a new set of hards. For some reason, we didn’t box, and I ended up having to let Charles by later than planned, losing a lot of race time.
“So, I guess he’s not happy, but I’m also not happy. I don’t think anyone’s happy today in the team because we all expected a bit more.”
“Ferrari’s Strategic Gamble Falls Flat”
Both drivers voiced frustration at Ferrari’s strategic decisions, with the Scuderia’s indecisiveness costing them the chance to challenge for a higher finish. While Sainz managed to salvage a podium, Leclerc ended the race outside the top three, adding fuel to the growing rivalry between the two.
“The Bigger Picture: Ferrari’s Growing Pains”
This isn’t the first time Ferrari has been at the center of intra-team drama, but the Las Vegas GP exposed cracks in the team’s operations and communication. Leclerc’s expletive-laden radio outburst underscores the growing tension within the camp as both drivers vie for superiority in a car that’s still struggling to match the front-runners.
With only two races remaining in the season, Ferrari will need to address these internal issues quickly or risk further fallout in their pursuit of stability—and success—in 2025.
