Leclerc Loses to Sainz in Pre-Race Challenge, Ferrari Faces Tough Battle at Canadian GP

Montreal, June 9, 2024 — In a light-hearted moment ahead of the high-stakes Canadian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was bested by his Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, in a friendly “ball in a cup” challenge. Despite the fun and games, Leclerc found the defeat “so depressing.”

Ferrari’s Momentum WanesFollowing their triumphant outing in Monaco, where Ferrari claimed their second win of the season, the mood has soured as they head into Round 9 of the 2024 Formula 1 season in Montreal. Carlos Sainz, who secured a victory in Melbourne earlier this year, and Leclerc, who celebrated his first win on home turf in Monaco, are now grappling with performance issues that have hindered their progress.

Struggles on the TrackThe weekend’s practice sessions revealed the extent of Ferrari’s troubles. Both the mixed conditions on Friday and the dry running on Saturday did little to help the Scuderia find their footing. During Qualifying, their woes continued as both Leclerc and Sainz failed to make it past Q2, a stark contrast to their recent success. This marks the second year in a row that Leclerc has missed Q3 in Canada, and the first time since Belgium 2021 that both Ferraris have been knocked out in Q2.

Driver ReflectionsLeclerc expressed frustration over the team’s lack of pace, finding it puzzling how Ferrari could fall from a stellar performance in Monaco to struggling in Montreal. “It’s strange to go from a really, really good weekend in Monaco and get here and be on the back foot,” Leclerc told Formula 1. He cited issues with the car’s sensors and overall session management as contributing factors to their poor showing.

Sainz mirrored these sentiments, lamenting the car’s grip and Ferrari’s strategy during Qualifying. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Sainz explained that the team’s decision to run new soft tyres early in Q2, anticipating weather changes, backfired. “We saw the shower coming… But when you don’t have a fast car, that’s when you get caught out,” he said.

Looking AheadDespite the setbacks, both drivers remain optimistic about the race. Leclerc is confident that Ferrari can recover some ground during the Grand Prix, saying, “We just need to make sure that we take the maximum points available.” Sainz is hopeful that the team’s struggles are confined to qualifying and not indicative of their race pace.

The Canadian Grand Prix, with George Russell starting from pole, promises a challenging day for Ferrari. With Leclerc and Sainz starting from P11 and P12 respectively, the duo faces an uphill battle to secure valuable points.

Stay tuned as Ferrari attempts to turn their weekend around in what is sure to be a thrilling race.