The intense psychological pressure within the Scuderia Ferrari garage has been thrust back into the spotlight as Carlos Sainz opened up about the darker side of his tenure with the Italian squad. Amid ongoing paddock debates sparked by Lewis Hamilton following their clash at the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Spanish driver reflected on the hostility he faced from partisan supporters while racing alongside Charles Leclerc.
The controversy ignited after Hamilton expressed fierce frustration over a first-lap collision in Mexico, arguing it cost the team a certain one-two finish. That incident fueled a wider narrative questioning the Monegasque driver's racecraft when battling teammates, with pundits pointing back to Sainz and Leclerc's four-year partnership in Maranello from 2021 to 2024.
Speaking ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend at Interlagos, Sainz offered a more balanced perspective on their intense wheel-to-wheel battles, choosing to remember the sporting challenge fondly while acknowledging the immense external toxicity.
"Honestly, I have relatively good memories of my time with Charles and the fights we had," Sainz stated. "It is true that when you are fighting for wins, there is always more pressure, more things on the line, so you naturally become a bit more selfish than when you are fighting in the midfield for a P8 or a P9."
Sainz pointed out that the sheer magnitude of fighting for race victories inevitably makes team orders harder to strictly follow. Despite fierce moments at historic venues like Monza and Las Vegas, he stressed that mutual respect always prevailed between the two drivers on the asphalt, with conflicts resolved amicably behind closed doors.
However, the off-track reality proved far more grueling due to the polarized media landscape and aggressive fan bases surrounding the Maranello outfit. Sainz admitted that navigating the digital abuse was often the most draining aspect of wearing the red race suit.
"I think what was more difficult was that the PR and the fan base were really ignited back then," Sainz reflected. "And it was very polarised between Charles and me, and I remember suffering a bit from the very hardcore fans of Charles insulting me, or wishing me bad."
Concluding his thoughts, the Spaniard emphasized that while external factions and certain sections of the Italian media frequently scrutinized whether he was fulfilling a secondary driver role adequately, his actual working relationship with Leclerc remained professional and constructive throughout their time together.
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