Column
Why Ferrari shouldn't put the full focus on Leclerc right now
- GPblog.com
Charles Leclerc's name is at the top of the World Championship after three Grands Prix. For the past week and a half, it was repeatedly said that Ferrari should put the full focus on the Monegasque. With Carlos Sainz, the Italians have another asset in hand. If the team were to write off the Spaniard at this point it would be a very premature decision.
Leclerc may have made a good impression during the races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia, but this by no means means means that the world championship leader is going to maintain this form throughout the year. After all, this is only the first year for Leclerc that he is ostensibly eligible for the world title, so it is far from clear whether the driver can show this for an entire season.
On top of that, Sainz also had a rough start last season when he began his first year with the Italian formation. The Spaniard needed some time to get used to his new car, while Leclerc did better in the opening stages of the season. Over the course of 2021, however, Sainz managed to improve and even finished above his teammate in the rankings.
Ferrari benefits from a strong duo
With Sainz's contract extension, Ferrari is expressing a lot of confidence in the driver who is third in the championship. For more than a year he showed internally that he has many qualities and insight, with which he can bring the team further in the process of winning the world championship for the first time since 2007.
Ferrari would therefore be irresponsible if they chose to withdraw their confidence in Sainz after just three GPs. With an internal struggle, the team ensures that both drivers perform at the top of their game, which only increases the chances of winning the world title. Moreover, with the new cars, it cannot be ruled out that Leclerc will retire a few times this season.
Sainz has an important role within the team
Sainz is for the competitors a driver they can hardly get rid of. The Madrileño, born and bred, knows how to get a foothold on his opponent and then hardly let's go until he sees no chance of beating him. Ferrari needs those qualities this season to compete for the prizes until the last GP in Abu Dhabi.
It would be logical to look at the situation during the summer break. If Leclerc is still leading the grid then it would be a logical decision to focus on Leclerc for the rest of the season. However, it is by no means impossible that Sainz will have fought back and will end up in the world title race. For now, however, Ferrari should do nothing and let both men race freely.