F1 analysis: How Carlos Sainz truly measured up against Charles Leclerc at Ferrari
Yesterday at 03:45 PM
Carlos Sainz's four-year tenure at Scuderia Ferrari fell short of the Formula 1 championship glory or tally of victories he might have envisioned. However, the Spanish driver’s role in solidifying the Maranello team's competitiveness clearly cannot be overlooked. In his final Formula 1 campaign driving in red, he managed to close the gap to Charles Leclerc more than ever before, showcasing his value as a teammate and competitor.
That said, Charles Leclerc firmly retained his status as Ferrari's leading driver, and the Maranello team's decision to retain him over Carlos Sainz when making space for seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton was supported by the numbers. While Carlos Sainz was undeniably the second-best driver during their partnership, the margin was consistently narrow, forming a powerful and well-matched duo. On most performance metrics, Charles Leclerc led about two-thirds of the time, including a clean sweep in the qualifying head-to-head across all four seasons. Over their shared racing laps, the Monegasque driver was ahead 62% of the time and finished in better positions 63% of the occasions when both drivers reached the chequered flag.
When judged purely on points, a notoriously imperfect metric for evaluating drivers, Carlos Sainz still made a strong case, contributing 46.7% of Ferrari's points haul during their time together. This highlights his consistency and ability to capitalize on opportunities, even when slightly trailing his Maranello teammate in terms of raw speed.
In qualifying, Carlos Sainz made steady progress throughout his stint at Ferrari. In the 2024 Formula 1 championship, he achieved his closest deficit to Charles Leclerc yet, trailing by an average of just 0.037 seconds per lap in comparable sessions. This marked a personal best, improving from a tenth behind in his debut year. However, the introduction of ground-effect cars in 2022, coupled with the Monegasque driver’s rapid adaptation to the new braking and cornering demands, presented Carlos Sainz with fresh challenges, particularly in the 2022 and 2023 Formula 1 seasons. Despite these hurdles, Carlos Sainz consistently pushed his Maranello teammate and delivered standout performances.
While Charles Leclerc's edge in outright speed and race-day prowess was evident more often than not, the Spaniard frequently rose to the occasion, outperforming him in several races on pure merit. Notably, Carlos Sainz excelled in conditions that exposed Ferrari's front-limited nature or in low-grip, low-downforce scenarios, areas where Charles Leclerc's aggressive, precision-focused style proved less effective. The Monegasque driver himself acknowledged that his razor-sharp qualifying approach sometimes faltered under such circumstances, leaving the door open for Carlos Sainz to shine.
Ultimately, while Charles Leclerc remained Ferrari's spearhead, Carlos Sainz's relentless pursuit of improvement and his knack for thriving in challenging conditions made their partnership a strong and dynamic pairing.
Charles Leclerc admitted that qualifying on very low-grip tracks is not one of his strengths, referencing his performance in Mexico where he qualified 0.319 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate. He explained that the high-altitude circuit, which uses a high-downforce configuration but experiences reduced air density, posed unique challenges. The Monegasque driver noted that he tends to push hard during the most important qualifying laps, which often leads to struggles in conditions like those in Mexico City and at the Monza circuit. He highlighted the difficulty of adapting to tracks with low grip, where a more measured approach is required, acknowledging that this is an area where he finds it harder to excel.
Carlos Sainz, in contrast, has consistently excelled in conditions that challenge others. This was evident early in his Ferrari tenure, notably at the 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix in windy Portimão, where he outqualified Charles Leclerc. His adaptability and skill in such scenarios complemented Charles Leclerc's strengths, making their partnership one of the most well-balanced in Formula 1. The Spanish driver frequently delivered when his Maranello teammate was not at his peak, ensuring the Italian side remained competitive across a wider range of circumstances.
Over his four years with the Scuderia, Carlos Sainz carved out a meaningful place in Ferrari's storied Formula 1 history. While not among the pantheon of Maranello legends, a distinction reserved for a select few, the Spaniard has indeed earned recognition as one of the team's most reliable and dedicated contributors. This is underscored by his inclusion in Ferrari's top 10 all-time list of Grand Prix race starters, a milestone facilitated by the expansive modern Formula 1 calendar but nonetheless indicative of his enduring presence and commitment.
Ferrari's huge respect for Carlos Sainz was evident during his emotional farewell earlier last week at the Fiorano circuit. The event included a symbolic gesture where both Carlos Sainz and his father, Carlos senior, took to the track in the F1-75 car, the single-seater which the Maranello team used in the 2022 Formula 1 championship, when the Spaniard secured his first victory, in the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit. The farewell, attended by key team members, including Charles Leclerc, served as a heartfelt acknowledgment of Carlos Sainz's contributions to the Maranello team and his integral role in its recent journey.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explained that the farewell was the best way to thank everyone for their contributions to the team, highlighting Carlos Sainz's role during his time with the Italian side in the last four years. The French manager reflected on Carlos Sainz’s tenure, noting that while they shared at least two strong seasons, certain moments stood out as particularly emotional. The former Alfa Romeo team boss cited the Melbourne race win, which came just a week after Carlos Sainz underwent surgery, as well as last year's recovery after the summer break, during which Carlos Sainz achieved pole position in Monza and a victory in Singapore at the Marina Bay street circuit.
Frederic Vasseur emphasized the importance of the Spanish driver’s contribution to the Maranello team's progress, acknowledging the difficult circumstances the future Williams driver faced when receiving a challenging call from him back in February, when he was informed he would not receive a contract extension from Ferrari. Despite the difficult situation, Frederic Vasseur praised Carlos Sainz for maintaining a professional, dedicated approach throughout the year, fighting relentlessly until the final moments of the season. He admitted that the farewell itself carried significant emotional weight for him personally.
Fred Vasseur explained that after finishing second in his Ferrari farewell at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this month, Carlos Sainz had every reason to feel proud of his time with the Maranello team. At the same time, the Ferrari team principal noted that Carlos Sainz had every justification for expressing pride in his four-year stint, having contributed to bringing Ferrari back to a position where it could compete for Formula 1 world championships.
— see video above —
The post F1 analysis: How Carlos Sainz truly measured up against Charles Leclerc at Ferrari appeared first on Scuderia Fans.
