Carlos Sainz has opened up about the dynamics with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, admitting that arguments are inevitable when two competitive drivers share the same garage. Speaking in a press conference ahead of the race, Sainz shared his experience during his time with the Maranello squad, highlighting how disagreements are part and parcel of life at a top team.
Ferrari's Driver Dynamics
According to Carlos Sainz, clashes with Charles Leclerc occurred around two to three times a year. "When you have two competitive teammates, these kinds of situations are always going to happen," he said. "Me with Charles, always twice, two or three times a year, we always had a bit of a discussion or an argument, but after the race or the morning after, we would call each other and sort it out."
His comments come amid scrutiny on Ferrari for failing to prioritise Lewis Hamilton's championship chances, with a lack of urgency in using team orders at Zandvoort and a clash between teammates at Monza causing further difficulties.
Lessons from the Past
Sainz emphasised that open communication is key to defusing tension. "It's normal when you're fighting for podiums or wins in a competitive team, and there are situations into Turn 1 or situations fighting in the race or with strategy, you always end up one day being not happy with the way it's been handled, and the next day, maybe you've been favoured. It's always the same case," he added.
Valtteri Bottas, who was also present at the press conference, joked when asked about his experience at Mercedes: "Confidential. Contractual stuff." However, he acknowledged that every team operates differently. "Around that time, it was very clear that you need to race fair and clean. There are certain rules in certain situations, which I don't want to go into detail about; you can use your imagination. But it's just how the sport works, and sometimes you get it better, sometimes you get it worse."
The experiences of Sainz and Bottas illustrate that managing egos and communication are crucial factors in a team's success. Ferrari, with its high ambitions, must quickly find a balance to avoid dropping valuable points in the remaining races.
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