Having sat out the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to endure appendicitis surgical procedure, Sainz had a profitable return to racing in Melbourne, taking the win with little competitors after race chief Max Verstappen was compelled to retire as a result of a brake difficulty.
Leclerc adopted the Spaniard residence in second place after qualifying solely fifth, two tenths and a half slower than the lead SF-24.
The Monegasque managed to undercut McLaren’s Lando Norris for second place however did not mount an actual problem to Sainz thereafter, subsequently explaining that he “did not handle the tyres nicely” in his second stint – the primary on laborious tyres.
Within the 10 laps previous his second pitstop, Leclerc misplaced 6.4 seconds to Sainz, whose rubber was seven laps more energizing.
Due to this fact, when requested if there was something extra he might have achieved to steal the win from his team-mate, Leclerc candidly replied: “Simply being higher. I feel in qualifying yesterday, I have never been adequate.
“Within the second stint in the present day, on the primary laborious stint, I had fairly a little bit of graining on the entrance left after the [virtual] security automotive. The final stint was actually good, however it wasn’t sufficient. So Carlos has simply been higher this weekend.
“However it’s been that within the final three years, the place we principally will arrive at one race and Carlos can be higher after which I will push after which I will be higher on the subsequent race after which we’ll enhance like that. And that is very thrilling as a driver to have such a quick team-mate.”
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
Sainz is a free agent on the 2025 System 1 driver market, with Ferrari having signed seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to companion Leclerc from then on.
Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes and Sergio Perez’s drive at Purple Bull can be of curiosity to the Ferrari man.
Whereas the three-time grand prix winner is just not at all times thought-about a prime driver by the media, Leclerc had a unique view when requested why he’s underrated: “I feel all people is aware of Carlos’ price within the paddock. He is one of many highest-rated drivers within the paddock.
“He is been extraordinarily sturdy each time he was in a System 1 automotive. And he has confirmed it a number of occasions. So I do not assume he is underrated for that.
“I feel all people is aware of Carlos’ price. And that is why I’ve stated many occasions that I am not too apprehensive about his future, as a result of I am certain that many, many workforce principals are… He would not say it, however for certain they’re talking with him! And I am certain he may have many alternatives and he’ll simply need to make your best option for his profession.”
