Why Leclerc Ferrari loyalty could push Sainz away

Being a Ferrari Formula 1 driver is seen by some as a coveted job, while others view it as a burden.

For Charles Leclerc, a protégé of the Italian squad, he has experienced both the highs and lows of what the team has to offer.

But with his past and present shaped by Ferrari, the 25-year-old would be wise to let his future play out at the team.

With Carlos Sainz having joined after spells with McLaren, Renault [now Alpine] and Toro Rosso [now AlphaTauri], the Spaniard faces a different dilemma when it comes to his future.

Joining its junior programme in 2016, Leclerc was already making a name for himself in the feeder categories and with an early relationship with Ferrari in place, he had set himself on a path towards F1.

With limited seats available, many of the junior drivers that are attached to F1 programmes fail to advance into the pinnacle series but it was soon obvious that Leclerc - who impressed en route to GP3 and F2 titles - would be destined for a Ferrari F1 drive.

The prospect of a seat at Ferrari, the most celebrated team in F1 history, is something to be excited about for any driver old or young and the luck of adequate timing favoured Leclerc he stepped into F1 with Sauber.

With Kimi Raikkonen’s time in F1 coming to an end at the conclusion of the 2018 campaign, Leclerc was promoted to Ferrari and at just 21 years of age, his dream of driving for the Maranello outfit was realised.

But his path to success in F1 would not be a simple one. Into his fifth season as a Ferrari driver, he has taken just five race wins and saw his only chance of battling for the title slip away last term.

Leclerc has been left bitterly disappointed by either a botched strategy call, a reliability issue or simply a slow car on numerous occasions so far and yet through all the strains, when his relationship and commitment to Ferrari have been tested, he has declared that remaining with the team is his primary focus.

“I have a huge love of Ferrari," the Monégasque said recently.

"My first target and my first dream is to become a World Champion with Ferrari, more than anything else.

“So, if there’s a slight opportunity for it to happen, I will have no doubt about pushing to stay here at least.”

Leclerc’s continued testaments of loyalty are admirable but behind the public statements rests the reality that there is little reason for him to leave when his contract expires at the end of next year.

After all, he is Ferrari’s poster boy. He is the future of the team and the figure that is likely to lead it to its next World Championship, should the car be capable in the coming years.

Just as there is no guarantee that Ferrari will deliver during Leclerc’s time with the team, there is also no certainty that he will be successful should he opt for a move elsewhere on the grid.

He had the measure of Sebastian Vettel and he has been ahead of Sainz during their time together so far. Barring the unlikely circumstance that the team turns its back on him, gambling on a move to pastures new with Ferrari’s pool of resources and established set-up could be problematic.

The Sainz dilemma

But while Leclerc holds out hope for a Ferrari turnaround, things are not quite so plain on the other side of the garage.

Since arriving in F1 at the start of the 2015 season, Sainz has struggled to find a permanent home in the sport.

Having been passed up by Red Bull in favour of Max Verstappen in 2016, the Spaniard departed the set-up for Renault for 2018.

Perhaps if he had waited one year later, it would’ve been him and not Pierre Gasly who got the nod to replace Daniel Ricciardo... who knows if his career could have played out differently alongside the Dutchman at Red Bull.

Getting involved with such high-profile teams as Ferrari, McLaren and Renault speaks volumes about Sainz’s talent and the view the paddock has on him.

But in almost all cases, none of the set-ups felt permanent and the same can be said about his Ferrari tenure. With Leclerc seemingly the lead driver - though the Scuderia, of course, denies this - Sainz would be wise to avoid placing his eggs in a singular basket.

The Maranello-based outfit has made Sainz a race winner and for that, he can be thankful. But outside of his podium achievements, there has been very little to cheer about as he has often performed in the shadow of his teammate.

The Spaniard has been linked with the Sauber team ahead of its transition to Audi at the start of 2026 and should the German squad come knocking for a veteran, he may be wise to accept.

Whatever the case, Sainz will be 30 years of age when his contract expires at the end of 2024 - certainly not past his peak but at the stage where his next market move will likely be the most important one of his career.