Sainz recalls the polarised fan climate around his Ferrari partnership with Leclerc

Carlos Sainz says the hardest part of his Ferrari partnership with Charles Leclerc was not the racing but the hostility around it. He recalled that some of Leclerc’s most ardent supporters insulted him and wished him ill, and described the atmosphere around the pair as polarised.

The two were Ferrari team-mates from 2021 to 2024. Sainz also recalled that some Italian media may have criticised him for not being enough of a number two when required; he said Leclerc could face similar expectations when their roles were reversed.

Sainz said he and Leclerc respected one another and fought hard without contact. With wins at stake, he understood why drivers might find it harder to follow the team’s preferred approach. When disagreements arose, he said, they would call each other later that same night, once calmer, and find a way forward.