The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix left a bitter taste for Ferrari, despite a third-place finish for Carlos Sainz and a fourth for Charles Leclerc. Both drivers, frustrated by questionable strategic decisions, did not hesitate to voice their discontent.
Here’s a look back at a tense weekend for the Scuderia Ferrari in the vice city which threatens to derail an otherwise smooth end to the season.
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Race management under fire
Once again, Ferrari made headlines for its strategic choices—and not in a good way. Carlos Sainz, strong at the start of the race on the first set of hard tires, saw his pace drop quickly due to graining. Although he repeatedly asked his team to bring him in for a tire change, the response was delayed. Meanwhile, Leclerc was gaining ground, closely followed by a resurgent Lewis Hamilton. The result? Ferrari asked Sainz to give up his position to Leclerc, but when the time finally came for Sainz to pit, the crew wasn’t ready. An avoidable time loss that cost the Spaniard dearly and hurt the team as a whole.
🇺🇸P3! Considering the pace Mercedes had today, we maximized the team’s points. I was expecting us to be more competitive, but we struggled with graining. Good points to keep Constructors' battle open until the end. Now Qatar.
👉https://t.co/sLxXEySiKQ
–#CarlosSainz pic.twitter.com/Yla2uChLHr— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) November 24, 2024
Sainz and Leclerc: two good reasons to worry
While Charles Leclerc criticized the poor handling of end-of-race instructions, Carlos Sainz also had grievances. The Spaniard felt Ferrari should have better anticipated the pit stops to avoid delicate situations, especially with the looming threat of Mercedes. This lack of organization not only compromised his strategy but also exacerbated tensions with Leclerc. In a team where internal rivalries have often surfaced, these kinds of disagreements could weigh heavily on the atmosphere in the paddock. In Las Vegas, the Scuderia mostly showed that its two drivers had different priorities—a reflection of the strategic tensions already seen earlier in the season.
A podium, but at what cost?
Despite everything, Sainz salvaged Ferrari’s pride by securing a well-deserved third place, overtaking both Leclerc and Max Verstappen in the final laps. But this podium isn’t enough to hide the lack of performance compared to Mercedes AMG, with George Russell untouchable and Hamilton really strong. The Scuderia Ferrari had a golden opportunity to score more points, but tire management and pit stop execution were once again far from optimal. This weekend’s incident highlights that there’s still work to be done in managing the relationship between the two drivers. With the season finale just around the corner, Ferrari still has a shot at securing first place in the F1 Constructors’ Championship—a crucial achievement for the Italian team as they strive to recapture the glory of their golden era in the 2000s.
This article explores the brewing tensions within Ferrari after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, highlighting strategic missteps that frustrated both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. It delves into the internal dynamics of the team, the challenges of managing two strong drivers, and the ongoing struggle to compete with Mercedes.
Image: Scuderia Ferrari media
