Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur Plays Down Claims of Leclerc-Sainz Clash Affecting Spanish Grand Prix Result
In the aftermath of the thrilling Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has downplayed Charles Leclerc’s assertion that his on-track incident with teammate Carlos Sainz cost him a better finish in the Formula 1 standings. The Monegasque driver was left fuming after Sainz made a bold move down his inside into Turn 1 on lap three, resulting in minor contact and the Spaniard retaining the position off the track. Leclerc later revealed that the incident had caused damage to his car, ultimately compromising his chances of a stronger result as he finished just four-tenths behind George Russell.
However, Vasseur has taken a more pragmatic view, highlighting multiple instances throughout the race where Leclerc lost valuable time. “You can find 10 examples of 10 circumstances in the race where we missed half a second or others that were after when Carlos let him go also later on,” he explained. “We missed a couple of tenths during two or three laps. Let us discuss and not to draw a conclusion after the first comment of the driver when he jumped out of the car.”
Post-race, Leclerc and Sainz were seen engaging in a lively discussion in parc ferme, with Leclerc emphasizing that Sainz had gone against their pre-planned strategy to preserve their positions and conserve tires in the first stint. Vasseur refused to be drawn on whether Sainz had ignored a team agreement, citing the common approach in Barcelona to prioritize track position in the first stint.
“We don’t speak like this about the strategy of the race,” Vasseur stated. “But we knew before that if you have a look on all the races in Barcelona for 25 years now, the first stint is a bit boring. It’s more to take position on track. And then when you start the pit stop to have still potential into the tire to push.”
Despite the tension between the two Ferrari drivers, Vasseur expressed confidence that their relationship would not be affected. “No, out of the car they have a very good relationship and good mutual trust,” he assured. “Now they are racers, for sure you can have this kind of case. But I know also perfectly that from this emulation we are getting a lot.”
The Frenchman went on to emphasize the benefits of healthy competition between teammates, citing last year’s championship charge as a testament to the duo’s rivalry. “Last year, if we recover, it’s also because you had this emulation between them and this competition all over the season. And it’s not just we have the cons, sometimes what happened today, but it’s not the match on the car was nothing. And it’s part of the game.”
As the Formula 1 calendar moves on to the next round, Ferrari will be looking to capitalize on the lessons learned from the Spanish Grand Prix. Stay up to date with the latest Formula 1 news, including the Formula 1 standings, and get ready for the next exciting installment of the 2023 season.
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