Will Sainz Help Leclerc Finally Conquer Monaco's Elusive Circuit?
Carlos Sainz is ready to step up in a big way for his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc as they head into the Monaco Grand Prix. Despite Leclerc's tantalizingly close but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to clinch the win on his home turf in previous years, Sainz believes this could be the year that changes. With a history of blistering speeds in Monte Carlo, Leclerc has once again secured pole position, putting him in the best position to finally dominate the race.
The elements seem aligned in Leclerc’s favor this year: Ferrari has brought one of its fastest cars, and with championship leader Max Verstappen starting from sixth, the path to victory seems clearer for the Monegasque star. Ready to assist from his third position, Sainz's strategy focuses not just on his own performance but on creating opportunities for Leclerc to lead.
When asked about his own chances for a win, Sainz remained realistic. “I think in a normal race it’s impossible,” he noted, underscoring that the typical demands and narrow streets of Monaco lend themselves to unpredictable outcomes. While every racer dreams of victory, Sainz emphasized that Leclerc deserves this win after several years of near misses.
“He’s been extremely strong all weekend and here in the past. So, yeah, tomorrow is the day to kind of wish that nothing happens and see if we can win with Charles,” Sainz said. His best chance to support? Surpassing McLaren's Oscar Piastri at the Sainte Devote corner and acting as a rear guard, ensuring that Leclerc has the best chance to maintain his lead.
Sainz reiterated his point: “We will see what we can do at the start, what we can do with strategy in order to do every single bit possible to help Charles to go and get that win.” The Spaniard, also reflecting on his teammate’s relentless preparation, highlighted Leclerc’s exceptional performance throughout the weekend, which he believes is partly due to an unusual level of commitment and focus.
But it hasn't been a smooth ride for Sainz. The weekend saw him lagging behind Leclerc, battling with a lack of confidence due to near-misses with the walls during practice sessions. Despite ending up two-tenths behind Leclerc in qualifying, Sainz admitted that issues with the SF-24 at a track where grid position is vital had been taxing.
“It’s been a bit of a struggle for me right from the beginning,” he admitted. “I haven’t been as confident as I’m normally around Monaco. And yeah, I haven’t been at my best.” Issues with inconsistency and numerous close calls with the barriers had chipped away at Sainz's confidence in the car, hindering his ability to push the limits as effectively as Leclerc.
Expanding on his struggles, Sainz explained that various near misses during practice sessions had left him wary. “I’ve had a lot of those during the practice, and it meant that for some reason I was just lacking confidence from then onwards.” He emphasized that the key problem was the unpredictability of the car's rear-end, which made it difficult to approach the walls confidently and consistently.
The battle ahead at Monaco remains challenging, but the Ferrari duo is set on maximizing their combined strengths to change the narrative of their home Grand Prix. With Sainz aiming to overcome his weekend struggles and play the role of tactical support, Leclerc stands on the brink of potentially one of the most significant victories of his career. As they leave the starting grid, all eyes will be on how these teammates synchronize their efforts to dominate one of the most prestigious and unforgiving circuits in Formula 1.