What do you think Ferrari is doing to quell the arguments between its recruits? Well, an ex-Ferrari driver, Jean Alesi, has volunteered to play peacemaker between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The two Scuderia recruits publicly locked horns after their outing in Barcelona. Charles alleged Carlos had delayed him on the race track. This has held him back from attacking Lewis Hamilton. Since a tussle between two teammates might spell trouble for Ferrari, Alesi has shared a hilarious way in which he wants to resolve this argument.
The Spanish GP started with drama at the front, in the middle, and at the back of the grid. While pole-sitter Lando Norris lost his lead to Max Verstappen, the two Ferraris engaged in a fight of their own. Charles Leclerc, starting at the fifth position, was ahead of Sainz who started in P6. When lap 3 of 66 arrived, the Spaniard tried to overtake his own team partner. In doing so, their two SF-24s had a contact.
This sabotaged Charles Leclerc’s chances of advancing his Championship run by scoring some precious points. And it cost him second place in the World Driver’s Championship where Lando Norris proudly sits with a two-point advantage over the Monegasque. Having lost a chance at scoring a podium and also a chance to defend his Championship position, Leclerc argued with Sainz right after the race ended.
During the post-race conference, Charles Leclerc did not spare his teammate. He said, “It was wrong to fight at the start, and it wasn’t fair racing from Carlos either, driving into T1 as if I weren’t there.” Sensing some trouble in Maranello, Jean Alesi has come to the aid of his former team. He photoshopped Carlos, Charles, and his own head on a picture where three men are shaking hands, and posted the picture as an Instagram story, saying, “Peace no war“. This, perhaps, was an attempt to resolve issues before the Ferrari racers go to Austria. But what did F1 expert Leo Turrini say about Carlos and Charles’ current dynamics?
Faith in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s make-believe friendship is ‘comical’
Leo Turrini wrote about his takeaways after Ferrari’s recent outings in Canada and Spain. He also highlighted the team’s decision to re-sign Charles Leclerc while dismissing Carlos Sainz as a reason for the two drivers’ ugly relationship. He said, “They [Sainz and Leclerc] were separated at home by legitimate business decisions. Pretending that they are friends in this reality is comical.”
The Ferrari teammates are going to part ways next year. While Charles Leclerc has signed up for a multi-year contract with the Scuderia, Carlos Sainz will no longer drive for the Italian outfit. The Spaniard will be replaced by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Their dissimilar fates might have driven a rift between the Monegasque and the #55 racer. However, they still need to finish the upcoming races of this year together before bidding goodbye.
Speaking of the rest of the 2024 races, Ferrari must buckle up soon. The team’s rivals, Mercedes and McLaren, are breathing down its neck in the Championship standings at the moment. Already, Lando Norris has crossed Leclerc’s standing on the Driver’s Championship table. If the Maranello squad wants to avoid a similar incident with their rank on the Constructors’ Standings, focusing on improving the SF-24’s performance with good upgrades is the only way.
Do you think Ferrari can achieve that in time so that they can defend their position? Tell us about your thoughts in the comments below.
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