Carlos Sainz has reflected on his former rivalry with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, highlighting the pressure surrounding the Italian F1 team and the challenges of managing two competitive drivers. Speaking ahead of the 2026 F1 São Paulo GP, the Williams driver also discussed the criticism he faced from sections of the Ferrari fanbase and Italian media during his four seasons alongside Leclerc.
His comments follow a controversial 2026 F1 Mexico City GP, where Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton went wheel-to-wheel on the opening lap. Both Ferrari drivers ran off the track during their battle at Turn 4, allowing Max Verstappen to capitalise and eventually claim victory. Leclerc received a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, while Hamilton finished second and Leclerc fourth.
The incident reignited discussions about the relationship between Ferrari’s drivers, with Hamilton questioning Leclerc’s approach to racing his teammates. Having partnered the Monegasque from 2021 to 2024, Sainz offered his perspective on their previous battles and explained why tensions between competitive team-mates are difficult to avoid.
Sainz recalls competitive battles with Leclerc at Ferrari
Asked about Hamilton’s recent comments and his own experiences racing alongside Leclerc in F1, Sainz recalled their time together at Ferrari positively, although he acknowledged that fighting for victories inevitably increases the pressure on both drivers.
“Honestly, I have relatively good memories of my time with Charles [Leclerc] and the fights we had. It is true that when you’re fighting for wins, there’s always more pressure and more things down the line. So you become naturally a bit more selfish than when you are fighting in the midfield for an P8 or a P9. So it’s more difficult, maybe, to follow exactly the ideal situation that the team would like you to follow, because there’s a win down the line.”
Sainz highlights pressure from the Ferrari fanbase and Italian media
Despite their intense on-track battles, Sainz insisted that he and Leclerc maintained mutual respect throughout their F1 partnership at Ferrari. He pointed to their memorable encounters at Monza and Las Vegas as examples of their competitive relationship, while suggesting that external pressure created more difficulties than their actual disagreements.
“There were wins down the line back then, but I think I always respected Charles. He always respected me. We never had contacts or anything like this. We just had strong fights. I think you remember Monza and Vegas. There were plenty of hot moments during the year. I think what was more difficult was the fan base and more the PR, and the fan base was really ignited back then. It was very polarised between Charles and me, and I remember suffering a bit from the very hardcore fans of Charles insulting or wishing me bad.”
The Spaniard also addressed the expectations placed on Ferrari drivers, particularly when questions arose about whether either should accept a supporting role. He explained that criticism from the media and supporters often intensified situations that he and Leclerc managed to resolve privately.
“Maybe some Italian media are also saying that I was not being enough of a number two when I needed it to be, and vice versa whenever Charles had to do it. So it’s more the pressure surrounding Ferrari that involves Ferrari than the actual issues that I had with Charles, which were always resolved that same night when we called each other more cold-headed. We always managed to find a solution on the way forward.”
Sainz believes tensions between competitive teammates are inevitable
Beyond his experiences at Ferrari, Sainz discussed the broader challenge teams face when they employ two drivers capable of competing for victories. He argued that disagreements become unavoidable when both drivers pursue their individual ambitions while trying to protect the team’s interests.
“It’s always been there in Formula 1 teams. I cannot remember any Formula 1 team that has had two good drivers fighting at the front that haven’t had issues when fighting for wins. You can choose whether to have a number two as a second driver, or you can have two good drivers that will create those issues, but you cannot have one without the other, in my opinion. And you will never have one without the other. I don’t know, maybe in Ferrari it gets a bit exacerbated with everything that involves Ferrari, but I cannot remember a moment where this hasn’t happened.”
Sainz points to Mercedes and McLaren as examples of team-mate rivalries
Sainz pointed to previous rivalries across F1, including those at Mercedes and McLaren, to demonstrate that Ferrari’s situation is far from unique. In his view, team principals must accept the possibility of internal conflict when they choose to field two equally ambitious drivers.
“It happened in Mercedes, it happened in McLaren in the last few years, it happened in Ferrari, it happened in McLaren in 2006, 2007, and 2008. So I don’t know when it hasn’t happened. It is part of Formula 1, and if you are a team principal and you know you’re going to have two great drivers, you’re always going to have that issue. I don’t think you can ever calm those two guys 100% down and expect them not to go for a move for a race week.”
As Ferrari heads into the 2026 F1 São Paulo GP following its difficult weekend in Mexico City, Sainz’s reflections underline the challenge of balancing individual ambition with team success. While the Spaniard acknowledged that his own battles with Leclerc occasionally created tension, he maintained that mutual respect and direct communication allowed them to move forward.
