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Ferrari Boss Shoots Warning to Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc Ahead of Bahrain GP

Somin Bhattacharjee
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Ferrari Boss Shoots Warning to Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc Ahead of Bahrain GP

After disappointment in the 2022 season, Ferrari is aiming to bounce back strong in 2023. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will both aim to compete for the world title this season, with expectations from their new challenger, the SF-23, already high.

All the drivers in F1 including Sainz and Leclerc are now headed to Bahrain, where they will take part in three days of pre-season testing in Sakhir. This test is important because the drivers get a feel of the new cars and talk to their teams about areas they can improve in.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, however, has a grim message for his drivers in case they come up with a problem. The Frenchman insists that if there is a problem with the car, Sainz and Leclerc will have to deal with it since they won’t have time to work on it before the first Grand Prix of the year.

Also read: “Sebastian Vettel Won Because He Was 9 KG Lighter”: Mark Webber Recalls 2010 Championship Loss to Team Mate

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have to deal with problems in Bahrain

In an interview with AMuS, Vasseur spoke about the possibility of them encountering problems during the test in Bahrain. He drew reference to McLaren’s problems with the brakes in Sakhir last year, which hampered their performance in the opening rounds.

He said that if Sainz or Leclerc find problems with the SF-23, they won’t have enough time to fix those issues before the opening Grand Prix in Bahrain. This is because the gap between testing and the first race of the season is just a week, and they won’t be traveling back to the factories.

“If someone has a big problem in testing, like McLaren did last year, they won’t be able to fix it before the Bahrain Grand Prix,” the 54-year-old said.

Also read: Max Verstappen Isn’t Alone Complaining About $1 Million Fee to Drive in 2023; 11 Years Ago Another F1 Champion Complained About It

Sainz hoping to take championship fight to teammate Leclerc

When Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021, not many people bet on him to match Leclerc. However, his consistency in his debut year led to him taking five podiums and also finish ahead of his teammate in the standings.

This consistency, however, was not visible in 2022. The Spaniard struggled immensely to get to speed with the F1-75, which was the first car in his career that was capable of fighting for wins on a regular basis. He did have notable moments last year, including his maiden F1 win at Silverstone, but the 28-year-old wants more.

Sainz is hoping for more consistency heading into the 2023 season, as he aims to take the championship fight to teammate Leclerc, and any other potential challenger.

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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