Carlos Sainz and overtaking Charles Leclerc: his explanation

A controversy reopened after qualifying was over, with a clarification.

Carlos Sainz took fifth place at the end of qualifying at Silverstone, and will start in the British Grand Prix behind teammate Charles Leclerc. It was precisely between the two Ferraris, however, that there were some changes of position during the course of the British Saturday, complete with piqued Team Radio between the Cavallino drivers. An issue on which, at the end of the day, the Spaniard himself wanted to return.

“In qualifying we have rules to respect on the positions with which we go down the track,” explained Sainz. “In the pitlane I always respected them, but there was a moment during qualifying when if I had not pushed I would have lost the lap. The reference is to the overtaking on Leclerc that took place before the flying lap in Q1. “Well done Carlos, congratulations. Nice overtaking at the last corner,” the Monegasque had complained to the team over the radio.

It should be recalled how in the most famous case of qualifying conditioned by the inability to do the flying lap due to traffic, at Monza 2019, Sainz himself was the only driver to make it past the checkered flag in time followed by future teammate Leclerc by a whisker. “That’s a little bit unfair. He made me lose tire temperature, and I’m even more at risk. I’m fourth, he’s third,” Sainz had moreover signaled to Ferrari when he had allowed his teammate to overtake him in the pitlane.