Remember the 2023 Monza GP, Ferrari’s home race, where team orders from Ferrari prevented Leclerc and Sainz from battling? Team orders are generally looked down on by fans, as they stop the drivers from racing. However, looking at the squabbling between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz during the Chinese GP sprint highlights the precise purpose of team orders. And now, after Leclerc called Sainz out for being too aggressive, the Spaniard is summoned by the stewards, possibly causing further harm.

When Max Verstappen passed Fernando Alonso for P2 and had Lewis Hamil in front, we all expected a spicy, aggressive battle like the 2021 championship. However, it was Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc who gave us that kind of fight after the Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz saga played out on Lap 16. After the collision between the two Spaniards, Alonso retired, whereas Sainz fought Leclerc aggressively. 

Charles Leclerc wasn’t impressed by Carlos Sainz’s aggressive and over-the-limit moves as Leclerc fired in the post-race interviews, and he said, “I think it was aggressive. Maybe Carlos and I were a bit too aggressive. I think Carlos was a bit over the limit today. In the past, we had fights where sometimes I was over the limit and sometimes he was over the limit. Today was on his side. We have to discuss, like we always do. But we have a great relationship with Carlos. So I have no worries; I think we clear the air very quickly.”

In the post-race radio, Leclerc asked for a team debrief and suggested that Sainz was fighting him more than others. And now Carlos Sainz has been summoned by the stewards for the incident with Fernando Alonso. It could get a lot worse for the Spaniard, as a fine and penalty points might be on the way if he’s found guilty. 

Nonetheless, during the post-race interviews, Carlos Sainz came forward and apologized to Charles Leclerc for being too aggressive and over the limit. 

Carlos Sainz: “I apologize if I did something over the limit”

While Charles Leclerc went into a rage mode after Carlos Sainz’s aggressive move during the Sprint race, the Spaniard decided to make peace and apologized for being too aggressive. Sainz explained how Alonso was being too ambitious, resulting in a collision that damaged his car. He then apologized for racing too hard, as the 5-car pack was very compact, and said, “I apologize if I did something over the limit.”

Speaking with a Spanish publication, Carlos Sainz was directly asked if he was being too aggressive, to which he replied, “If he [Charles Leclerc] says so, then I need to check.” The reporter replied, “He [Charles Leclerc] says yes.” Sainz humbled himself and said, “If he says so, let’s say yes. I apologize. All of us were in a fight and at the limit.”

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What do you make of the battle between the Ferrari drivers? Is this going to be a trend that we’re going to see for the rest of the season?