Carlos Sainz says his moves on Charles Leclerc during the Bahrain Grand Prix were “under control” and with the intention of ensuring his team-mate didn’t lose time.
Leclerc was running three places ahead of Sainz in the nascent stages but dropped behind George Russell and Sergio Perez as he nursed a substantial brake problem.
Sainz then lunged down the inside of Turn 1, with Leclerc having to back out on the outside as his angle became compromised on the approach to the Turn 2 apex.
Ex-Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve had touted that Ferrari’s decision to not renew Sainz’s contract would see him refuse to act in the team’s ideal interests.
However, Sainz was surprised when it was suggested things got close between the two Ferraris, arguing that he takes a measured approach to racing the sister car.
“It never felt close inside the car,” Sainz said regarding his move on Leclerc. “Whenever I do an overtake on my team-mate I will always try and leave as much margin as possible and I try and do it whenever I feel like I’m fully under control and I’m not putting any car at risk and that’s exactly what I did.
“It felt like a very good move, moves, and yeah I’m always keeping an eye on Charles and I’m not making him also lose time or anything like that.”
Despite becoming the lead Ferrari on the road, Sainz would drop back behind Leclerc when the team opted to give the latter preferential treatment at the first pit stops.
But Sainz, who passed Leclerc again before also overhauling Russell to clinch a podium, doesn’t believe he was overlooked and viewed his extended stint as a positive.
“I don’t think it was an intended undercut,” he argued. “I think Charles degraded the tyres probably a bit earlier than me and they decided to keep me out for three or four laps.
“Honestly, those three or four laps were very strong. I think I managed to go down to 37s, low 37s again. So it was worth it.
“And then, yeah, luckily, it didn’t compromise my race because I could pass Charles fairly quickly and go and attack George which I passed also quite quickly so I don’t think I lost too much race time on that situation.”
