‘Why Ferrari replaced Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton?’ F1 fans unite in claim after X-rated Charles Leclerc’s radio rant
Charles Leclerc united Formula 1 fans in one claim after his expletive-filled radio rant at Ferrari following the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver – who will partner Lewis Hamilton next season – let loose on his team radio after losing out to Carlos Sainz. Leclerc on the inside jumped up two places at the startGetty Leclerc, who finished on the podium in Sin City last year, looked good value to do so again this weekend following a superb start in Vegas. He started fourth on the grid but climbed to second behind leader and eventual race winner George Russell after the first lap. The 27-year-old came close to overtaking the Brit but eventually slipped back to where he qualified after an issue with his car. To add insult to injury, Leclerc finished a spot below his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz, who completed the podium. The eight-time F1 race winner had been ahead of the Spaniard after his final pit stop and had been informed he wouldn’t be overtaken. Ferrari race engineer Bryan Bozzi told Leclerc: “Carlos has been told to not overtake but it is really close, you might be just in front. He has been told to not put you under pressure. So just take care of your tyres.” Sainz proceeded to overtake Leclerc, who responded sarcastically over the team radio: “Maybe try in Spanish.” Leclerc’s frustration then boiled over after crossing the chequered flag when Bozzi attempted to thank him for doing his job. The Monte Carlo-born star replied: “Yeah, I did my job, but being nice f**** me over all the f****** time, all the f****** time. “It’s not even being nice, it’s just being respectful. I know I need to shut up, but at one point it’s always the same, so…oh my f***** God.” However, he was left fuming on his radio laterSky Sports Leclerc looked unfavourably on Sainz’s anticsSky Sports Leclerc was then asked to ‘pick up’ but hit back by saying: “F*****pick up what the f**k you want. And the radio is on, I am sorry.” Sainz only has two more races with the Italian team before he drops down to link up with Williams, while Hamilton replaces him. The 30-year-old would have been expected to have found a new home at another top team but is instead joining a backmarker. F1 fans believe his Vegas antics are a prime example of why a top move never materialised, with Leclerc bemoaning his behaviour before. One fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Today once again shows why Red Bull didn’t even entertain the idea of signing Sainz, and why Ferrari didn’t renew his contract. “Selfish driver who creates a toxic environment, who then tries to act like he’s a team player. The worst of the worst.” Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc for Ferrari in 2025AFP Another added: “I speak for everyone, and I mean everyone. We cannot wait until the final lap of Abu Dhabi to send that dude to Williams.” A third said: “There are multiple reasons why Ferrari needed to get rid of Carlos and bring in someone like Lewis.” Elsewhere, Max Verstappen wrapped up his fourth consecutive title with his five-placed finish in Vegas giving him an insurmountable lead. Leclerc is 21 points behind Lando Norris in the race for second in the drivers’ championship but missed the chance to cut the gap by more. Ferrari are also 24 points behind McLaren ahead of the penultimate race of the season in Qatar next week, before the Abu Dhabi finale.
Charles Leclerc united Formula 1 fans in one claim after his expletive-filled radio rant at Ferrari following the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Monegasque driver – who will partner Lewis Hamilton next season – let loose on his team radio after losing out to Carlos Sainz.
Leclerc, who finished on the podium in Sin City last year, looked good value to do so again this weekend following a superb start in Vegas.
He started fourth on the grid but climbed to second behind leader and eventual race winner George Russell after the first lap.
The 27-year-old came close to overtaking the Brit but eventually slipped back to where he qualified after an issue with his car.
To add insult to injury, Leclerc finished a spot below his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz, who completed the podium.
The eight-time F1 race winner had been ahead of the Spaniard after his final pit stop and had been informed he wouldn’t be overtaken.
Ferrari race engineer Bryan Bozzi told Leclerc: “Carlos has been told to not overtake but it is really close, you might be just in front. He has been told to not put you under pressure. So just take care of your tyres.”
Sainz proceeded to overtake Leclerc, who responded sarcastically over the team radio: “Maybe try in Spanish.”
Leclerc’s frustration then boiled over after crossing the chequered flag when Bozzi attempted to thank him for doing his job.
The Monte Carlo-born star replied: “Yeah, I did my job, but being nice f**** me over all the f****** time, all the f****** time.
“It’s not even being nice, it’s just being respectful. I know I need to shut up, but at one point it’s always the same, so…oh my f***** God.”
Leclerc was then asked to ‘pick up’ but hit back by saying: “F*****pick up what the f**k you want. And the radio is on, I am sorry.”
Sainz only has two more races with the Italian team before he drops down to link up with Williams, while Hamilton replaces him.
The 30-year-old would have been expected to have found a new home at another top team but is instead joining a backmarker.
F1 fans believe his Vegas antics are a prime example of why a top move never materialised, with Leclerc bemoaning his behaviour before.
One fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Today once again shows why Red Bull didn’t even entertain the idea of signing Sainz, and why Ferrari didn’t renew his contract.
“Selfish driver who creates a toxic environment, who then tries to act like he’s a team player. The worst of the worst.”
Another added: “I speak for everyone, and I mean everyone. We cannot wait until the final lap of Abu Dhabi to send that dude to Williams.”
A third said: “There are multiple reasons why Ferrari needed to get rid of Carlos and bring in someone like Lewis.”
Elsewhere, Max Verstappen wrapped up his fourth consecutive title with his five-placed finish in Vegas giving him an insurmountable lead.
Leclerc is 21 points behind Lando Norris in the race for second in the drivers’ championship but missed the chance to cut the gap by more.
Ferrari are also 24 points behind McLaren ahead of the penultimate race of the season in Qatar next week, before the Abu Dhabi finale.
