Charles Leclerc has openly criticized Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz following their controversial clash at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Monegasque, frustrated and disillusioned, accused Sainz of disregarding team orders, culminating in a tense post-race tirade that revealed growing fractures within Ferrari’s driver dynamic.
Sainz Defies Orders, Takes Podium Over Leclerc
The drama unfolded after Leclerc pitted on Lap 31, rejoining ahead of Sainz with fresh tires. Ferrari’s radio instructed Sainz not to challenge his teammate. But Sainz, sensing an opportunity, overruled the call and passed Leclerc into Turn 4 to secure third place. The move, reminiscent of an earlier controversy at the Spanish Grand Prix, sparked outrage in Leclerc, who felt betrayed by Sainz’s actions.
“I’m not happy, but I won’t go into details,” Leclerc vented post-race to Sky Sports Italy. “We talk about these things before the race, and I’m always the only one who respects those agreements. From now on, I will be thinking about myself only.”
Leclerc’s Mistakes and Ferrari’s Lost Opportunity
Leclerc’s frustrations were compounded by his own strategic misjudgment. Starting fourth, he surged past Sainz and Pierre Gasly at Turn 1 to challenge George Russell for the lead. However, aggressive early pace led to extreme tire graining, costing Leclerc valuable positions and leaving him vulnerable to Sainz and Max Verstappen.
“I felt like I had everything under control, but then from one corner to the other, I lost three seconds per lap,” Leclerc said. “I put too much stress on the tires early on—it’s my bad.”
Despite these struggles, Leclerc recovered to finish fourth, helping Ferrari reduce its Constructors’ Championship gap to McLaren to 24 points. However, he admitted that Mercedes’ unexpected dominance in Las Vegas limited Ferrari’s gains.
“We expected to be stronger than McLaren, which we were,” Leclerc explained. “But we did not expect Mercedes to be that strong. Maybe Mercedes is more the outlier than McLaren.”
Sainz Defends His Decision Amid Ferrari Fallout
Sainz, meanwhile, showed no remorse for his actions, asserting that his move was justified by the circumstances. Having struggled with tire degradation earlier, the Spaniard capitalized on Leclerc’s vulnerability to secure a podium finish.
“I’m really happy with the race today,” Sainz stated. “The team needed this result, and I fought hard for it. I’ll always aim to maximize points for Ferrari.”
Ferrari’s Internal Battle: A Warning for 2025?
The Leclerc-Sainz clash raises questions about Ferrari’s internal dynamics heading into the final two races and the 2025 season. With McLaren and Mercedes surging in competitiveness, Ferrari can ill afford to lose focus in its pursuit of glory.
Will Ferrari’s leadership step in to ease tensions, or will the rivalry between its drivers continue to undermine team cohesion? For Leclerc, the Las Vegas GP serves as a turning point, with the Monegasque making it clear he’ll prioritize his own interests moving forward.
As Ferrari’s battle for the Constructors’ Championship intensifies, the spotlight remains firmly on how the team manages its two fiercely competitive drivers.