Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz sat behind a automobile chatting en path to Bahrain Worldwide Circuit.
A buzz was within the air as Components One ready for the primary race weekend of the 2024 season, recent off of a protracted 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 mentioned to his teammate earlier than a stuffed chili pepper appeared within the body. A fan had given it to Sainz, a nod in direction of one in every of his nicknames. Sainz mentioned, “I wish to give this to you, from my fan to me, for you so that you bear in mind me for the remainder of your life.”
Leclerc pressed the chili towards 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 giggle. Sainz mentioned, “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 powerful, although tensions have flared, like after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However on the private aspect, the 2 have fashioned a beloved duo identified by followers as C². Ferrari has put them by quite a few viral challenges over time, and the pair have grow 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 gained’t be in crimson subsequent yr, we’ll almost definitely journey collectively on the races to spend a while collectively,” Leclerc mentioned in Abu Dhabi, “as a result of our relationship is basically good.”
“It’s a combination between a chili… and a carrot” 😅 @Carlossainz55 presents 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 alternative 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 Purple Bull). Sainz’s breakthrough yr got here with the papaya as he secured his first podium in 2019.
Nonetheless, 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 identified 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 may be fluid. However Sainz and Leclerc clicked shortly, changing into so shut that many followers puzzled on-line whether or not it was a PR stunt pulled by Ferrari. These varieties of feedback continued for years, even when on-track frustrations flared.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz put together to play a recreation within the paddock throughout previews forward of the Australian GP in 2023. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Pictures)
“I truthfully maintain seeing typically in social media that individuals consider it’s not true and it’s all PR. And truthfully, it disappoints me as a result of individuals can not typically perceive that we’ve got an expert relationship, and in that skilled relationship, we undergo ups and downs,” Sainz mentioned 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 can be P1 and I’d be P8 or vice versa, we’d by no means have points, however sadly, or let’s say happily 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 by 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 inside the strains dictated by Ferrari (like on the 2024 United States Grand Prix, the place they completed 1-2, the 2023 Italian Grand Prix and this yr’s Las Vegas GP).
@f1 the ferraris made positive we have been all entertained 🤺🤺 #f1 #formula1 #f1sprint #usgp #ferrari #carlossainz #charlesleclerc
♬ Hahahaha once more – Lea👅
They’re allowed to battle. And as famous by Sainz, they’re combating for a similar high-scoring positions, which starkly contrasts his stints at McLaren, Renault and Toro Rosso (now RB). He wasn’t combating 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 spite of everything, it’s the oldest group on the grid and a prestigious and legendary model.
Typically, friction arises within the skilled relationship, like through 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 tough 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 shortly relatively than permitting it to pull 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 mentioned in Qatar: “No matter occurred in Vegas, we mentioned about it, and we’re all good, which is a very powerful 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 typically issues don’t go precisely the best way we would like, however a very powerful factor is that we talk about about it and we go ahead.”
Leclerc was later requested in the identical information convention what was mentioned that made him snug placing belief in Ferrari and Sainz. He doubled down on the connection and communication facet once more. “Typically I’ve overstepped the strains, and typically he did,” Leclerc mentioned. “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 check with Williams, his new residence, and it’ll be the top of an period in crimson. 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 several friendship, is totally different than ‘Carlando.’
Leclerc and Carlos Sainz rejoice in parc ferme through the Monaco GP on Might 26, 2024. (Clive Rose/Getty Pictures)
And as Leclerc mentioned, Sainz will solely be working “20 meters away within the paddock.” However that doesn’t imply he gained’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 kind of guys that I do know sooner or later once I’m not in Components 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 a variety of good reminiscences with him,” Sainz mentioned in Qatar. “And in these 4 years in Ferrari, I’ve loved each single second with him, even the powerful ones. As a lot as they’ve been powerful, I’m fairly positive in 20-30 years I’ll giggle about them and look again with being happy with what we’ve achieved collectively.”
High photographs: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire, Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures, Clive Mason – Components 1/Components 1 through Getty Pictures; Design: Meech Robinson/The Athletic