Dazzling Ferrari radio messages discovered in fight between Leclerc and Sainz Vegas

On November 25, 2024By Pranco

Neither Carlos Sainz nor Charles Leclerc were particularly happy with the other after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as Sainz appeared to have ignored a team instruction. But on the team’s radio shows, Sainz was never given clear instructions on what to do.

Sainz finished third, ahead of Leclerc, after overtaking the Monegasque driver at the start of the final stint – a situation that Leclerc and Ferrari believed Sainz had been instructed to do.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc face off after the thrilling Las Vegas GP

Leclerc and Sainz were inseparable on track for most of the race at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, with Leclerc ahead of Sainz at Turn 1 as the Spaniard battled with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

But Sainz got back at Leclerc when the Monegasque seriously fouled his tires while trying to overtake Mercedes‘ George Russell took the lead and neatly overtook his teammate before pulling away a short distance.

But in the second stint, now on the hard tyre, Sainz was the one to sand his tires as Leclerc and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton overtook him – forcing the Spaniard to choose his moment carefully before releasing Leclerc.

The timing of the final stops saw Leclerc and Sainz merge on track, with the Spaniard appearing to go against instruction by overtaking his teammate – a position he then held until the end of the race.

Let’s take a look at the race team radio to see the instructions given to both Leclerc and Sainz.

BB: Bryan Bozzi, Charles Leclerc’s racing engineer
CL: Charles Leclerc

RA: Riccardo Adami, Carlos Sainz’s racing engineer
CS: Carlos Sainz

Round 3:

BB: Think of Mode TS, priority on bands, Mode TS.

Round 5:

RA: Switch position yellow and Mode

Round 9: Sainz goes to the pits to exchange his medium tires for hard tires.

Round 10:

BB: Charles, if we stop, we’ll end up behind everyone, then we’ve got to get through it.

CL: (Unclear)… I’m telling you it’s like having a flat tire.

BB: Box Charles box, box Charles box, flap update.

Round 10: Leclerc goes to the pits to exchange his medium tires for hard tires.

Round 11:

BB: Tires are a priority, except in the corners we discussed.

Round 15:

CS: Correct me if I’m wrong, but it feels more like (unclear).

Round 19:

CS: Will it be Plan C, because it changes everything? (apparently asking if it’s a one-stop or two-stop race)

RA: Give us two rounds, I’ll get back to you.

Round 22:

RA: For now, Plan A is still preferred, Plan A, unless there is granularity. (Suggests one stop)

Round 25:

RA: We go for plan C. (Suggest two stops)

Round 26: Sainz leads Leclerc and Hamilton, with Sainz being ordered to release Leclerc.

RA: Don’t delay Charles.
CS: If you want, we can box this round.
RA: Copy, got it.
CS: Let’s get rid of these ties.
RA: And let Charles pass. And stay outside this round. Still open on Tsunoda.

BB to CL: We will switch cars in the last corner.
CS: Who is behind Karel?
RA: Hamilton.
CS: I let him pass in turn 5.

The exchange does not take place.
KL: Nice trade, great.

Round 27:

BB: He said now in turn 5.
RA: Be careful, Hamilton is right behind Charles, he is half a second behind.
CS: Copy.
CL: For God’s sake guys, for God’s sake. He must know that I’m killing my front this way. Damn stupid.

CS: I’m going to waste time here.
RA: Okay, boxing, boxing this round. Let Charles pass, let Charles pass and box.

BB: He will let you do that now.
RA: Let him in (turn 14).

Sainz manages to get Leclerc past him while keeping Hamilton at bay.
RA: And box Carlos, box. Pit attach and box.
RA: Stay away, stay away, stay away!

Sainz, who has entered the pit lane, returns to the track to continue, while Hamilton enters the pit lane.

More about the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Las Vegas GP driver ratings: Russell is top of the class as Verstappen does what is necessary

Conclusions GP of Las Vegas: Verstappen unbeatable, instructions Hamilton against Leclerc, warning Red Bull

Round 28: Sainz goes to the pits to get another set of hard tires

CS: What happened?
RA: We weren’t ready.
CS: Wake up guys! Come on!

BB: So Hamilton boxed, and Verstappen boxed. You are now P2, Russell P1.

Round 31: Leclerc goes to the pits to exchange his mediums for hard tires.

BB: Note the white line. Notice the white line, and box Charles, box.

RA: Charles is boxing.

RA: Don’t put pressure on him (Charles).

BB: Carlos has been told not to overtake, but it is very close, he could easily be at the front.

BB: He has been told not to pressure you.

Sainz hangs on to Leclerc, with the Spaniard clearly enjoying more grip now that his tires have warmed up during his three laps on track. He uses DRS to overtake Leclerc and immediately starts driving away.

BB: Don’t push into the corners. Do what you did before, it’s a long race. Don’t make that right front tire gritty.

CL: Maybe try it in Spanish!

Lap 50: Checkered flag. Sainz finishes ahead of Leclerc.

CL: Was that the checkered flag?
BB: Yes. Collect (marbles), please.
CL: Yes, whatever you want, as always.
BB: Charles, you did your job, okay. Thank you.
CL: Yes yes yes, I did my job, but being nice fucks me all the time, all the time. It’s not even being nice, it’s just being respectful.
BB: Karel, Karel.
CL: I know I should shut up, but at some point it’s always the same, so…oh my fucking god.
BB: OK. But either way, you did the right thing for the team. And please pick up.
CL: Yeah, f**king, pick up what we want… S**t, s**t, s**t, the radio’s on. I’m sorry, that was on me.
CL: And where was McLaren anyway?
BB: McLaren was P6 and P7, and we finished in P4. Sainz P3, Verstappen P5.