Ferrari: Constructors' Championship must be the priority, internal truce necessary

Today at 11:25 AM

At Ferrari, controversies are not dying down. During the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc reacted strongly to a borderline situation with which he did not agree. He did so over the team radio, after crossing the finish line, visibly angry about how things had unfolded. His complaint was directed at his teammate Carlos Sainz, who, according to the Monegasque, had once again failed to adhere to the Maranello team’s pre-race strategies established during the customary Sunday morning briefings. This refers to the incident that occurred right after the Monegasque’s second pit stop to fit the last set of hard tires.

Car number 16 reentered the track and positioned itself ahead of Carlos Sainz’s car. The Spanish driver’s tires, with four laps of wear, had already completed their warm up process and were offering superior grip at that moment. Conversely, Charles Leclerc was performing a "slow introduction" in order to avoid excessive stress on the tires and ensure their estimated lifespan. Within this competitive context, car number 55 was faster and, once it reached its teammate’s rear, the Spaniard wasted no time overtaking the other Ferrari.

The two red cars continued their pursuit of Max Verstappen, and during the final laps, both managed to overtake the Dutchman, who offered little resistance, focusing instead on his championship. According to some, the Spaniard had no choice but to pass his teammate as the priority was to avoid losing valuable time chasing Max. Others, however, view his behavior as disrespectful, arguing that, no longer being accountable to a team that has effectively replaced him with Hamilton, the Spaniard is prioritizing himself and feels free to be “disobedient.”

For Ferrari, however, the outcome remains unchanged. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz crossed the finish line side by side at the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, and even swapping positions, their combined points total still amounted to 27. The difference lies in the drivers’ standings, where Charles Leclerc still has a chance to aim for second place. The Monegasque driver himself mentioned this to the media, emphasizing that, from now on, in the last two Formula 1 races they will contest together, he will focus primarily on himself. In front of the microphones, Charles Leclerc refrains from being harsh, although he comments on the events in his own way, while Carlos Sainz refuses to respond, reiterating that “dirty laundry” is washed at home.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur must now work to keep the team united until the end of the 2024 Formula 1 championship. Do Ferrari's two drivers no longer tolerate each other? Many smiles for the cameras, in ceremonial photos and during Ferrari events, but is the friendship over? It could be. Who knows. But the real question is this: is it really necessary to fuel such a controversy at such a delicate moment in the history of the Prancing Horse? Yes, because the Italian team is fighting for a championship. Or rather… it is trying to close a gap with McLaren, accumulated during the months when the SF-24 cars struggled tremendously with the technical update to the floor, developed under the technical direction of Italian aerodynamicist Enrico Cardile.

Frederic Vasseur is thinking about this issue. For the French manager, tying his name to Ferrari in his second year with the historic team would be fantastic: a crowning achievement for his hard work, as well as an enormous source of satisfaction for all the fans. As the leader of this group, the Frenchman had to address this situation with the media. First, however, he commented on the race: a complicated affair, especially in the first stint, where difficulties in managing the compounds effectively weakened the two SF-24 cars. This problem reappeared at the end of the second stint as well.

Fortunately, in the third stint, things improved. With less fuel onboard, the Maranello team’s cars performed significantly better. Summing up, the Frenchman stated that the team did well to limit the damage. All true. Nonetheless, his thoughts turned to the points lost, as beating Mercedes would have brought Ferrari even closer to the Woking team. This is particularly relevant considering that next Sunday in Qatar, executing the weekend flawlessly will not be easy given the layout, which does not favor the red cars.

Pressed by the media, the former Alfa Romeo boss eventually addressed the issue of the drivers—a difficult situation to manage due to its complexities. Frederic Vasseur could not avoid dealing with it, but in a way, he managed to sidestep it. He prepared a response to calm tensions, delivering a speech about strategy. He explained that the tire strategy created confusion and frustration, as it caused both Ferrari drivers to lose significant race time. Such a scenario can happen, as can the natural frustration that follows. “You have to understand them,” said the Frenchman.

All of this served to gloss over the issue and focus on the fact that he had not spoken to the drivers. A shame, considering he was present—on the track, on the pit wall, on the radio—and thus knows very well about Charles Leclerc's outburst, whether it was justified or not. However, he prefers to postpone any discussion until later, behind closed doors, during the debriefing. According to information gathered directly at the track, the discussions reviewing the work done were quite heated. But this was to be expected when misunderstandings arise.

This is nothing that has not happened in any F1 team during a competitive campaign. Highlighting, revisiting, and commenting on the facts is undoubtedly appropriate. However, making a big issue out of it seems rather excessive, especially at a time when it is crucial to keep a group working together as they fight for the 2024 Formula 1 world Constructors’ Championship. The drivers' intelligence must not be overshadowed by their emotions, and in the next two race weekends, the primary objective remains to support the team and achieve the best possible results.

If the two Ferrari drivers cannot stand each other, or at least the respect between them is no longer what it once was, so be it. Their paths will soon diverge. What matters now is not regretting losing a championship over issues stemming from internal conflict. That would be unacceptable. If McLaren proves better and deserves the title, they will be applauded as rivals. But helping the Woking team win this championship through the drivers' behavior driven by selfishness and internal rivalry would deeply hurt Ferrari. Frederic Vasseur must work on this for a necessary truce.

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