Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz sat behind a automobile chatting en path to Bahrain Worldwide Circuit.
A buzz was within the air as Formulation One ready for the primary race weekend of the 2024 season, recent off of an extended winter, the groups’ season launches and a foolish season signing altering the drivers’ market. Information broke on Feb. 1 that Lewis Hamilton would go away Mercedes and change to Ferrari for the 2025 season, costing Sainz his seat. It wasn’t a matter of the Spaniard not performing — how do you say no to a seven-time world champion?
On the best way to the Bahrain monitor, Leclerc stared down the digital camera with a slight smile. “Inform me, Carlos,” he stated to his teammate earlier than a stuffed chili pepper appeared within the body. A fan had given it to Sainz, a nod in the direction of certainly one of his nicknames. Sainz stated, “I wish to give this to you, from my fan to me, for you so that you keep in mind me for the remainder of your life.”
Leclerc pressed the chili in opposition to his face, saying, “A chiliiiiii.” Sainz added, “For our post-teammate period.” Leclerc stopped spinning the chili, his smile fading as he checked out his teammate.
“Come on, we’re solely beginning the season,” he responded with a slight chuckle. Sainz stated, “Getting emotional already.”
Collectively, Leclerc and Sainz fashioned a formidable driver duo that helped Ferrari contend for its first constructors’ championship since 2008, sitting 21 factors behind first-place McLaren. The 2024 season has been the strongest of their respective F1 careers, Leclerc securing three wins (together with an emotional residence win at Monaco and a group residence win on the Italian GP) and 12 podium finishes. Sainz introduced residence two victories (one simply 16 days after having surgical procedure) and eight podiums.
Their working relationship is robust, although tensions have flared, like after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However on the private facet, the 2 have fashioned a beloved duo recognized by followers as C². Ferrari has put them via quite a few viral challenges through the years, and the pair have turn out to be memes on social media. Their personalities have shone, and whereas they each will nonetheless be within the paddock in 2025 with Sainz at Williams, it’s the top of a particular driver pairing.
“I’m positive that although he received’t be in purple subsequent 12 months, we’ll more than likely journey collectively on the races to spend a while collectively,” Leclerc stated in Abu Dhabi, “as a result of our relationship is basically good.”
“It’s a combination between a chili… and a carrot” 😅 @Carlossainz55 items his chili to @Charles_Leclerc 🙏 pic.twitter.com/4AHU2Xl4h0
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 2, 2024
All of it started 4 years in the past.
Ferrari introduced in Might 2020 that Sainz would exchange four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. The information got here after Daniel Ricciardo was confirmed because the Spaniard’s substitute at McLaren, Sainz’s residence for 2 years. The Woking-based crew led the midfield battle then, ending 2020 third within the standings (however 117 factors off of second-place Pink Bull). Sainz’s breakthrough 12 months got here with the papaya as he secured his first podium in 2019.
Nevertheless, one of many lasting reminiscences of Sainz’s McLaren chapter is how he bonded with the group, particularly then-teammate Lando Norris. The duo fashioned what continues to be recognized immediately amongst followers as ‘Carlando,’ the time period even popping up throughout competitions just like the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Recreating that shut friendship bond is uncommon, particularly in a ruthless sport the place the drivers’ market could be fluid. However Sainz and Leclerc clicked rapidly, turning into so shut that many followers questioned on-line whether or not it was a PR stunt pulled by Ferrari. These forms of feedback continued for years, even when on-track frustrations flared.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz put together to play a sport within the paddock throughout previews forward of the Australian GP in 2023. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Pictures)
“I actually maintain seeing generally in social media that individuals consider it’s not true and it’s all PR. And actually, it disappoints me as a result of individuals can’t generally perceive that we have now knowledgeable relationship, and in that skilled relationship, we undergo ups and downs,” Sainz stated in Qatar. “As aggressive as we’re, we’re at all times going to have some points on monitor as a result of, once more, if he could be P1 and I might be P8 or vice versa, we might by no means have points, however sadly, or let’s say thankfully for the group, we’re at all times in the identical level on the monitor, and we’re having our little points right here and there.
“However then we even have a private relationship, and as a lot because the skilled one goes via ups and downs, the private one, I can let you know, it’s at all times been actually, actually good.”
Leclerc and Sainz have clashed on monitor over the seasons however battled throughout the traces dictated by Ferrari (like on the 2024 United States Grand Prix, the place they completed 1-2, the 2023 Italian Grand Prix and this 12 months’s Las Vegas GP).
@f1 the ferraris made positive we have been all entertained 🤺🤺 #f1 #formula1 #f1sprint #usgp #ferrari #carlossainz #charlesleclerc
They’re allowed to combat. And as famous by Sainz, they’re preventing for a similar high-scoring positions, which starkly contrasts his stints at McLaren, Renault and Toro Rosso (now RB). He wasn’t preventing for wins when competing for earlier groups, and none of these stops got here with the identical strain that being a Ferrari driver brings. In any case, it’s the oldest group on the grid and a prestigious and legendary model.
Generally, friction arises within the skilled relationship, like throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Leclerc gave a fiery radio message, saying, “Yeah, I did my job, however being good f— me over all of the f— time.” He was reluctant to enter particulars, and group principal Fred Vasseur felt Leclerc’s radio remarks have been in regards to the troublesome state of affairs, not one particular second.
Communication, although, seems to be a trademark of their relationship. They’re able to separate the skilled from the private, however in addition they transfer on from misunderstandings rapidly fairly than permitting it to tug on to a different race weekend.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz dressed as cowboys within the paddock forward of the US Grand Prix in 2023. (JIM WATSON/AFP through Getty Pictures)
Leclerc stated in Qatar: “No matter occurred in Vegas, we mentioned about it, and we’re all good, which is crucial factor. I had no doubts about that as a result of we’ve at all times had a very good relationship with Carlos and we’ve had races the place generally issues don’t go precisely the best way we wish, however crucial factor is that we talk about about it and we go ahead.”
Leclerc was later requested in the identical information convention what was stated that made him comfy placing belief in Ferrari and Sainz. He doubled down on the connection and communication side once more. “Generally I’ve overstepped the traces, and generally he did,” Leclerc stated. “After which it solely requires a dialogue between us two. And we glance ourselves within the eye, and we all know one another since a really very long time now. We perceive one another very, in a short time.”
Come Sunday, as soon as the checkered flag falls, the cameras flip off and the debriefs wrap up, that’ll be it. Sainz is driving within the post-season take a look at with Williams, his new residence, and it’ll be the top of an period in purple. Whereas the chapter will shut on Sainz and Leclerc’s skilled relationship, it’s exhausting to think about that the dynamic duo of C² will stop to exist. This relationship, like all friendship, is totally different than ‘Carlando.’
Leclerc and Carlos Sainz rejoice in parc ferme throughout the Monaco GP on Might 26, 2024. (Clive Rose/Getty Pictures)
And as Leclerc stated, Sainz will solely be working “20 meters away within the paddock.” However that doesn’t imply he received’t miss his teammate. His helmet for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend is indicative of it.
Etched on the highest of the glittered helmet is “mucha5 gracia5 Carlos” — a nod to Sainz’s automobile quantity, 55.
“(Leclerc’s) a type of guys that I do know sooner or later after I’m not in Formulation One, I’ll look again and say I’m glad I met him, and I’m glad I raced with him, and I’m glad I can have loads of good reminiscences with him,” Sainz stated in Qatar. “And in these 4 years in Ferrari, I’ve loved each single second with him, even the robust ones. As a lot as they’ve been robust, I’m fairly positive in 20-30 years I’ll chuckle about them and look again with being pleased with what we’ve achieved collectively.”
Prime photographs: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire, Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures, Clive Mason – Formulation 1/Formulation 1 through Getty Pictures; Design: Meech Robinson/The Athletic
