Carlos Sainz warned that the collision between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could have been avoided, citing the long‑standing tension that fuels a Ferrari‑led two‑driver team.
Drivers to Watch at Monza
After Fernando Alonso’s return to the pit‑lane, Hamilton stepped up to drive for Ferrari, replacing the nine‑time world champion. The partnership proved the fault line between speed and strategy, especially when the Italian round saw Leclerc shove Hamilton into the gravel straight away from the start.
Hamilton admitted he raced “clean” and that the incident stemmed from Leclerc’s aggressive attempt to floor the front‑line battle. “I was ahead in Turn 2; I had the space,” he declared, arguing his right to defend his position. Leclerc, for his part, accepted that both were culpable, remarking “we went too far.” The clash was the latest chapter in a series of friction points that at moments pushed Ferrari to the penalty cup.
Sainz’s Take on Team Dynamics
Speaking in Madrid, Sainz clarified that intra‑team spat is inevitable when rivals vie for podiums. “You can’t keep a competitive pair from arguing,” he said. “The key is to sort it out the next day.” He recalled moments when he was a Ferrari teammate in the 2021‑2024 window, battling for over 900 points to Leclerc’s 1,029, and emphasised that the duo would always communicate after the race.
His statement underlined the relationship between the 2024 rivalry and the need for a “rule of engagement” inside the team, something Hamilton had cited as lacking in Ferrari.
Hamilton’s Call for Clearer Communication
Hamilton pinpointed Ferrari’s erratic team‑order approach as a factor in eliminating his podium chances at Zandvoort, where he slipped behind Leclerc. He stressed that unlike the clarity he enjoyed at Mercedes, Ferrari lacked formal guidelines for racing together.
He outlined that decisions at the top cascade down, involving team principal Fred Vasseur. The call for improved communication at the front line echoes a broader demand for solid processes within the team, especially as the 2025 season sees Sainz transition to Williams while Hamilton remains at the helm of Ferrari.
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