Carlos Sainz believes that he did “what was required as a driver” at the Barcelona GP following on-track incidents with teammate Charles Leclerc and 2025 replacement Lewis Hamilton.
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Home race hero Carlos Sainz had a 2024 Barcelona GP to remember. However, this may not have been for the right reasons. He had on-track incidents with both his teammate Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the driver who will replace him at Ferrari from the 2025 season.
It was natural that the media would have plenty to ask post race. The Spanish driver also had a lot to say himself, visibly frustrated by the events of the race.
Referring to Leclerc, Sainz shared that, “Too many times after the race he [Leclerc] complains about something. Honestly, at this point of the season, I was on the attack.”
While Leclerc understood that the team were to manage their used soft tyres, Sainz took note of his pace and overtook his teammate. He does not “know if he made a mistake or was just managing a bit too much.
“I think I was trying to do what was required as a driver. He elected to manage more.”
Battle With Hamilton
Sainz’s complaints did not stop there. On Lap 19, he entered a battle for P6 with Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver managed to overtake him after the pair came side by side at Turn 1. Over the radio, Sainz declared that he was forced off track by the Brit.
LAP 19/66
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 23, 2024
Carlos and Lewis go into battle for P6! ⚔️
The Mercedes squeezes by at Turn 1, but Sainz protests over the radio that he was forced off track.#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/7BlgWl1h4v
The FIA chose not to investigate this incident, which left the Spaniard questioning their decision.
He told media in Spain, “Normally, the rule this year says that if you’re ahead around the outside, they need to give you space.”
“That’s normally what the stewards have ruled this year. So I was trying to benefit from that rule.”
The rule he referred to is the one that allows the driver with the bulk of their car ahead of the competition to have the right of way when hitting the apex of that corner. If a driver forces a pass when they do not have the right of way, then they are asked to give their track position back to that driver.
However, the FIA did not deem this the case. Hamilton went on to complete the podium with a P3 finish. Sainz sat in P6 behind Leclerc in P5.
Image Credit: Scuderia Ferrari HP
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