Leclerc “didn’t understand the point” of Sainz’s early F1 Spanish GP attack

Charles Leclerc has expressed his confusion over Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz’s aggressive early attack during the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, questioning the strategy behind his fellow driver’s move.

The Spanish GP saw a thrilling battle between the two Ferrari drivers, with Sainz making a bold move on Leclerc on lap 4, attempting to pass him around the outside of Turn 3. However, the Monegasque driver held his ground, and Sainz was forced to back off, ultimately losing momentum and dropping down the order.

When asked about the incident in the post-race press conference, Leclerc admitted that he was perplexed by Sainz’s decision to attack so early in the race. “To be honest, I didn’t understand the point of pushing so hard so early in the race,” Leclerc said. “I mean, we were both on the same strategy, and we knew that the tyres were going to be a bit of an issue later on in the race.”

Leclerc, who went on to finish the race in fourth place, suggested that Sainz’s aggressive move may have been driven by a desire to prove a point, rather than a genuine attempt to gain an advantage. “Maybe Carlos wanted to show that he could push hard, but for me, it was just not the right moment to do so,” he added.

Sainz, who eventually finished the race in seventh place, defended his decision to attack Leclerc, citing the need to take advantage of any opportunity to gain positions. “I was trying to take advantage of the fact that Charles was struggling a bit with his tyres, and I saw an opportunity to pass him,” Sainz explained. “It didn’t work out, but I think it was worth trying.”

Despite the disagreement over strategy, both Ferrari drivers were keen to downplay any tension between them, with Leclerc insisting that the incident was simply a “racing incident”. “We’re both competitive, and we both want to win,” Leclerc said. “But at the end of the day, we’re teammates, and we need to work together to get the best result for the team.”

The incident has sparked debate among F1 fans and pundits, with some arguing that Sainz’s aggressive move was a necessary risk to take in order to gain an advantage, while others believe that Leclerc was justified in defending his position.

Regardless of the merits of Sainz’s move, the incident has highlighted the intense competition between the two Ferrari drivers, and the fine line between racing aggressively and taking unnecessary risks. As the season wears on, it will be fascinating to see how this rivalry develops, and whether it ultimately benefits or hinders the team’s chances of success.