"Being nice f*ks me over all the f*king time"-Charles Leclerc seemingly takes a shot at Carlos Sainz for ignoring team orders and costing him a podium
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc shared his frustrations on team radio after his teammate Carlos Sainz ignored team orders at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday night. The Monagasque driver made a scintillating start to the race after he gained two positions and moved up to P2 ahead of Sainz, heading into Turn 1.
But after attacking George Russell for the lead, he fell off the pace dramatically, falling to P4, and was forced to make an early pitstop. He regained some momentum in his second stint as he caught up to the back of the Spanish driver and eventually passed him.
But Leclerc was left fuming after Carlos Sainz did not follow team orders. The team asked him to not fight the Monegasque after his second stop but refused to do so. The move proved critical in the battle for the final podium position as Sainz finished a couple of seconds ahead of the eight-time race winner.
After the end of the race, Charles Leclerc was heard on his team radio baring his frustrations, as he said,
"Yeah, I did my job, but being nice f***s me over all the f***ing time, all the f***ing time. It's not even being nice, it's just being respectful. I know I need to shut up, but at one point it's always the same, so..."
Carlos Sainz gives his take on the car's performance in Las Vegas
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz said the performance of his Ferrari on medium tires was a "shock" for him. He and Charles Leclerc failed to keep their positions at the front with the cars on medium tires, with Max Verstappen overtaking them.
Speaking in the post-race interview with F1TV, the 30-year-old said:
"It was a bit of a shock with the mediums. I expected strong to be on this tyre but it lasted eight laps. From then onwards it was a damage limitation race. I was not comfortable with the car and not strong today.
"I wish I was a bit quicker and fighting with George for the win but we didn't have it. We came back with a P3 which was the maximum we could do today."
Ferrari's P3 and P4 helped it close the gap to McLaren in the Constructors' Championship, with the gap now 24 points, with two races and one Sprint remaining in the 2024 season.