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Carlos Sainz: Bad Teammate or Just Trying to Prove Himself? The F1’s history of disrespect to second drivers

Many Formula 1 teams use their number 2 drivers as wingmen for their priority drivers to clinch victory and points. Many drivers disagreed with it.

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Venkatakrishnan
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In the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was fuming over the radio. The swearing was not because he missed the opportunity to win the race, it was because his teammate Carlos Sainz finished ahead of him without caring about the team orders. 

The Intra team battle which was going on for a very long time inside ferrari was finally out and both the drivers acknowledged that there was something wrong between them. The biggest problem is if you are called ‘Number 2’ in a team, it means you are not their main driver, and they don't prioritise you.

Leclerc is standing third in the driver's championship next to Max verstappen and Lando Norris. Max Verstappen has already won this year's World Championship, so it was only for the teams to decide which driver in their team could finish ahead as the constructor's title is still hanging between McLaren and Ferrari.

What started all of it?

During the Las Vegas Grand prix, Carlos Sainz was called for a pit stop and immediately ordered to stay out as their crew were not ready for the tyre change and Sainz was angry about that. He was looking to Pit stop earlier, and if he had stopped during that time he would have finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton who ended in P2.

Then Leclerc went for a Pit stop and was told that Sainz would allow him to pass. Carlos sainz who was already angry with the team didn't follow the team's orders and passed Leclerc. The monagasque was fuming after the race as he could have got 5 more points instead of 12 points.

The question here is whether being a second driver means you shouldn't race the first driver. Formula 1 has a big history of disrespecting or treating their second driver as a wingman for their first driver to get points and win the championship.

History of F1 teams with second drivers

Ferrari

Talking about the Priority, let's start with ferrari, which played a big part in prioritising one driver over the other. The Spaniard was sidelined once it was announced that ferrari would not continue with Carlos from next year. Even during the Mexican Grand prix, where Carlos won the race, it was not celebrated by the team that much and Leclerc was also seen passing Carlos without even shaking hands. 

The Italian team also treated Sebastian Vettel during the 2019 and 2020 seasons the same way, where he was not given priority. The Germans went racing against Leclerc and they couldn't accept that. Even when Alonso was their driver they used Felippe Massa as a wingman which was heavily criticised.

Also Read: 'Want to win? Come to Red Bull!' - Max Verstappen's blunt invitation sparks F1 buzz.

Red Bull

In Red Bull Max Verstappen is given the number 1 priority compared with his teammate Sergio Perez. Though Sergio is currently not in good form, the way the management treating them is not good. When Daniel Ricciardo came to the Squad Sebastian Vettel was not given the top Priority and when Max Verstappen came into the squad, Daniel felt the same and went to Renault.

Also Read: Red Bull Boss is unhappy despite Max Verstappen winning 4th world championship.

McLaren

The McLaren team was one of the biggest examples of Team debacle. When Senna and Prost were teammates at McLaren during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. Even after clinching the world title in 1988, Prosst left the team citing McLaren treating him very unfairly and blaming him for many incidents with Senna. 

Alonso joined them in 2007 after winning the championship in 2006 with Renault. But felt the team giving more priority to debutant Lewis Hamilton. He left the team the next year. The same is happening with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri now. The Australian driver won the Hungarian Grand prix and Lando didn't even celebrate with his teammate on the podium. Even Max Verstappen questioned McLaren’s unfair treatment of Oscar Piastri.

Mercedes

In the modern era, the most time we have seen a driver being used as a wingman was Valtteri Bottas in Mercedes. He was ordered by the team many times over the team radio to assist Lewis Hamilton who is fighting for his title against Sebastian Vettel. We could even say that Valtteri Bottas helped Lewis win some of his world titles. Who can forget the famous Radio message ‘Valtteri, Its James’.

Also Read: Charles Leclerc has issues with Carlos Sainz. What's cooking inside the Ferrari F1 team?

Ferrari Formula 1 Carlos Sainz Charles Leclerc
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