Leclerc 'Suffering From Performance Of Sainz' Liuzzi Suggests

Sunday, 14 April 2024 at 17:30

Former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi discussed the matchup between the two Ferrari drivers after the first four race weekends of the 2024 season.

After the first four Grand Prix races of the 2024 season, Charles Leclerc stands in third place in the Drivers's Championship, four points ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz.

However, it is essential to note that the 29-year-old Spaniard participated in only three out of four races (due to surgery for appendicitis), so he attended one race less than his teammate.

Moreover, Sainz beat the Monegsaque in all of the remaining three races and also finished on the podium in all of them. Vitantonio Liuzzi suggested the tremendous progress from Sainz was noticeable already in 2023, as he told Corriere dello Sport:

"Leclerc and Sainz? I have to say that last year, in the second half of the season, I saw incredible growth from Carlos. He proved it with the victory in Singapore."

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The Spaniard won the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix in a spectacular fashion when he worked with McLaren's Lando Norris to keep their positions ahead of Mercedes.

Despite showing significant progress and even higher potential, Sainz didn't get his contract with Ferrari renewed ahead of this season. Nevertheless, that only seems to have boosted his performance so far.

The 29-year-old has outperformed Leclerc even in the last two qualifying sessions, which are considered to be the 26-year-old's domain.

Sainz has been driving so brilliantly that even Mark Webber recently suggested it would be interesting to know whether Ferrari regrets their decision to get rid of him instead of Leclerc. Liuzzi added:

"I did not expect to see a Leclerc so under pressure and in trouble this year, he is suffering from the performance of Sainz, who will leave at the end of the season."

"But Hamilton will arrive in his place; therefore, Leclerc will have an important battle next to him. I hope Charles can find himself, he will be fundamental for the balance of the red car."