Former teammate of Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz knows perfectly well the tensions that can arise from an internal battle. But in Monza, the Spaniard believes that the Scuderia drivers have an additional responsibility.
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Carlos Sainz reacted to the tensions that appeared between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after their duel right from the start of the Italian Grand Prix. The former Ferrari driver believes that disagreements between two competitive teammates are perfectly normal, but reminds that in Monza, the Scuderia representatives must keep in mind a particular responsibility: to avoid at all costs colliding between red cars.
Hamilton had tried to overtake Leclerc on the inside at the first corner before ending up on the outside in the second. The Monegasque then regained the ideal racing line, sending his teammate into the gravel and pushing him back to tenth position. After the race, the Briton regretted the absence of real engagement rules at Ferrari.
Sainz knows the tensions with Leclerc perfectly
Sainz is particularly well placed to comment on the situation. The Spaniard shared the Ferrari garage with Leclerc between 2021 and 2024 before giving way to Hamilton. During these four seasons, the two men also experienced several moments of tension.
“When you have two competitive teammates, this kind of situation always ends up happening. With Charles, two or three times a year, we had a discussion or a disagreement, but after the race or the next morning, we would call each other and resolve the problem.”
For Sainz, these tensions are almost inevitable when two drivers have a car capable of fighting for podiums or victories. An incident on track or a strategic decision can quickly give one of the two the feeling of having been disadvantaged.
“One day, you are not satisfied with how a situation was handled and, the next day, maybe you are the one who is favored. It’s always kind of the same story.”
“We always sorted it out between us”
Sainz does not claim to know how Ferrari currently manages the relationship between Hamilton and Leclerc. However, he remembers the method used when he himself raced alongside the Monegasque.
“I don’t know how the situation is managed today. But when I was at Ferrari with Charles, we always sorted things out between us before moving on.”
The Madrid native especially remembers their spectacular duel at the 2023 Italian Grand Prix. The two Ferrari drivers battled until the last laps for third place, with Sainz ultimately managing to keep the podium ahead of his teammate.
Despite the intensity of this battle, no real dispute broke out between them after the finish.
“I remember that in 2023, our battle in Monza was particularly intense. I don’t think we had the slightest argument that day, because we both felt we had been as fair as possible given the stakes.”
At Monza, Ferrari represents something different
Sainz also acknowledges having experienced much more tense clashes with Leclerc during their four seasons together. But for him, Monza is a special case because of what this race represents for Ferrari and its tifosi.
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“We certainly had much worse situations. But in Monza, you feel an extra responsibility: to make sure you don’t touch the other driver in the other red car, precisely because you are in Monza.”
Avoiding collisions between teammates is already one of the fundamental rules of motorsport, but this obligation takes on an even greater dimension when it comes to Ferrari in front of its fans.
“I think it’s anyway the number one rule in motorsport and Formula 1. But with Ferrari at Monza, it probably means even more and you inevitably keep that in mind when you engage in every battle.”
Hamilton calls for clearer rules at Ferrari
Sainz’s statements come as Hamilton has openly asked Ferrari to define a clearer framework for the confrontations between its drivers. After his sixth place at Monza, the seven-time world champion notably explained that the Scuderia currently has no real engagement rules.
Hamilton compared this situation with the one he experienced at Mercedes during his rivalry with Nico Rosberg. Between 2014 and 2016, the many clashes between the two champions had pushed the German team to establish rules to regulate their duels.
Valtteri Bottas, who replaced Rosberg in 2017, confirmed the existence of such instructions, while refusing to reveal their precise content.
“These are confidential and contractual elements. Every team obviously operates differently and has its own rules, but at that time, it was very clear that we had to fight cleanly and fairly.”
Bottas confirms the existence of instructions at Mercedes
The Finn acknowledges that certain situations were indeed regulated more precisely at Mercedes. However, he prefers to leave some mystery about the limits that were set internally.
“There are certain rules for certain situations, but I don’t want to go into details. You can use your imagination, that’s simply how this sport works.”
Bottas also reminds that no system can guarantee perfect equality between two teammates over the course of a season.
“Sometimes, it goes more in your favor and, sometimes, it’s the opposite.”
Ferrari could now be inspired by this type of operation. Fred Vasseur already acknowledged after Monza that it was time to discuss how Hamilton and Leclerc should face off, as tensions between the two drivers become increasingly visible.
For Sainz, disagreements between Hamilton and Leclerc are therefore nothing exceptional and are part of the life of a team with two ambitious drivers. But the Spaniard sends them a clear reminder: when you wear Ferrari colors in Monza, avoiding any contact with the other red car is an even more important responsibility than elsewhere.
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